CRIMINALS are being put to good use – cleaning up the borough s streets and scrubbing graffiti from railway bridges. Men and women who fall foul of the law can be seen helping to makeover problem areas around Barking and Dagenham as part of the Justice S

CRIMINALS are being put to good use - cleaning up the borough's streets and scrubbing graffiti from railway bridges.

Men and women who fall foul of the law can be seen helping to makeover problem areas around Barking and Dagenham as part of the "Justice Seen-Justice Done" campaign.

It aims to raise awareness of community payback penalties and give families a bigger say in where criminals should be sent to carry out their punishments.

Anyone who is convicted of a crime and given a community sentence can be made to take part in a range of activities benefiting the borough.

Offenders could be put to work making Barking and Dagenham a more pleasant place to live by cleaning streets, removing graffiti, helping recycling projects, maintaining public buildings and improving parks.

And while they are working criminals are expected to wear high visibility jackets with "Community Payback" written on them.

They could also be sent to self-improvement programmes such as reading and writing skills, behavioural management and drug or alcohol abuse courses.

This is designed to tackle offending at the root of the problem.

The council are now giving residents the chance to vote for one of five potential community payback projects.

The five sites in the vote are Goresbrook Village children's play area and Maplestead Road shops; Back Lane in Chadwell Heath; Green Lane at the junction of Burnside Road and alleyway behind Rowallen Parade, St Marks Road and Barking Park.

Whichever project they choose will receive increased commitment from offenders for two weeks in April.

Votes can be registered by calling 020 8215 3000 or emailing to payback@london.probation.gsi.gov.uk