YOUNG offenders in Oxford believe community work is the best way to pay for their crimes as the Government unveiled plans to toughen up on community service.

Justice ministers yesterday warned offenders not jailed would have to work four days a week and spend the fifth day looking for a job under a shake-up of the much-criticised Community Payback scheme.

The Oxford Mail spoke to young offenders on an intensive three-day effort to clean up Shotover Park. They said getting criminals like them to clean up in their communities was a good idea.

One offender, a 17-year-old from Witney, who was convicted for selling marijuana, said he had learned a lot through the programme. He said: “I was given a 12 month referral order and I have also finished an arts college programme as part of it.

“I think it’s good because it makes you give something back to the community. It’s hard work.” For three days, the eight youths have worked hard to rebuild steps and demolish bridges that are no longer needed at the Site of Special Scientific Interest, off Old Road.

The young people are involved in the project because they have to complete a specific number of hours of unpaid work to make amends for their offences.

They will all receive a “certificate of achievement” for their time and effort.

The Government wants more criminals to take part in similar schemes.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Youth Offending Service led the project, which finished yesterday, assisted by conservation charity BTCV.

A 16-year-old from Blackbird Leys, who was convicted of theft by finding, added: “It gets us off the streets and stuff. It’s better than going to prison. “ Kathryn Rowsell, Reparation coordinator for the Oxfordshire Youth Offending Service, believed the schemes worked.

She said: “These projects enhance the young people’s experiences, self-esteem and skills as well as providing an opportunity to become involved in the conservation of their area and to do something worthwhile for the community.”

The Government yesterday said its plans would mean criminals could be forced to work up to eight hours a day.

Meanwhile, the new intensive scheme will be delivered within seven days of sentencing, instead of the two weeks it currently takes following a court appearance.

Before the announcement, Community Payback programmes could be spread out over 12 months – with some offenders working for a minimum of just six hours per week Minister for Prisons and Probation Crispin Blunt said: “If you are unemployed and on Community Payback, you should not be sitting idle at home watching daytime television or hanging about with your mates on a street corner, you should be out paying back to your community through hard,honest work.

“The public want to see offenders giving something back to their communities, but they are rightly not satisfied with seeing only a handful of hours a week dished out.

“Decent, law-abiding people can work a full five-day week and so should offenders.

“If we are going to reduce the scandalous reoffending rates, it is essential that we help turn offenders into ex-offenders.

“The introduction of regular, meaningful hard work is proven to help break the cycle of crime and encourage a law-abiding life.

“This means that fewer criminals, fewer victims of crime and much reduced costs for the taxpayer... a wholly positive result for society.”

However, some critics said community service was not enough.

Francis Doyle, 59, from Cowley, said he thought people should be forced into National Service.

He said: “There’s no discipline on these schemes. They’re a soft option. They are not a good enough deterrent.”

But Linda Bloomfield, from Wood Farm, said: “I think it depends on what people have done. But if it benefits the area they committed the crime in, it’s a good idea.”