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4. Community Service Orders (Charts 7-11 and Tables 11-17 and 58)
4.1 A total of 8,330 CSOs (including 2,757 Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work) were made in 2004-05. This represents an increase of 12 per cent from the 2003-04 total of 7,428.
Number of Community Service Orders (1) 2000-01 to 2004-05
Chart 7
4.2 The incidence of CSOs (including Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work) was 23.1 per 10,000 population in 2004-05. This rate was highest in Dundee City (37.7), Glasgow City (30.9) and Dumfries & Galloway (30.8), and lowest in East Dunbartonshire (8.9), Aberdeenshire (10.5) and East Renfrewshire (11.4).
Number of CSOs (1) per 10,000 population by Local Authority 2004-05
Chart 8
4.3 Male offenders accounted for 88 per cent of CSOs and Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work. Females receiving CSOs (excluding Probation with Unpaid Work) tended to be older, with 64 per cent of such orders relating to over 25 year olds. The corresponding proportion for males was 49 per cent.
4.4 CSOs (including Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work) were relatively more common amongst young offenders, with 84.2 orders per 10,000 population for 18-20 year olds and 60.3 orders per 10,000 population for 21-25 year olds.
Community Service Orders (1) by Age and Gender of Offender, 2004-05
Orders per 10,000 population
Chart 9
4.5 The average length of a CSO (including Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work) in 2004-05 was 147 hours, the same as in 2003-04. On average, males (149 hours) received slightly longer orders than females (136 hours). The average length of a Requirement of Unpaid Work imposed as a condition of a Probation Order tended to be slightly shorter than for Community Service Orders (142 hours compared with 149 hours).
4.6 The employment status of offenders provides an indication of whether the offender is likely to be available for work during normal working hours (i.e. weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm). Over 60 per cent of CSOs were given to offenders who were either unemployed or not seeking employment. Just over 30 per cent were employed or self employed, in full time education or on a government sponsored training scheme.
4.7 Males receiving CSOs were relatively more likely to be employed (29 per cent) than females (15 per cent), while females were more likely to be not seeking employment (17 per cent as opposed to 6 per cent of males).
Breach Applications of Community Service Orders
4.8 There were 1,667 breach applications made to the Courts in 2004-05 in respect of CSOs (excluding Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work). This represented an increase of just over a quarter compared with the 1,329 breach applications in 2003-04. Breach Applications of Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work are included in section 5.
Breach Applications of CSOs (1) by Main Outcome, 2001-02 to 2004-05
Chart 10
4.9 The number of breach applications is not directly comparable with the number of orders provided previously (which covers new orders only) as some of the breach applications may relate to orders started in the previous year. However, as CSOs must be completed within a 12 month period, the number of orders started in 2004-05 (5,573 excluding Probation with Unpaid Work) can be taken as a proxy measure for the number of orders active during the year. This suggests that around 30 per cent of orders resulted in a breach application.
4.10 Thirteen per cent of breach applications resulted in the original order being revoked and a custodial sentence imposed. A further 22 per cent of breaches resulted in the original order being revoked and some other action taken. In 11 per cent of applications, the original order was continued and no further action taken by the court and in 7 per cent of applications, a warrant for apprehension/recall was made. The outcome was not yet known for 34 per cent of breach applications made in 2004-05.
4.11 Males accounted for 89 per cent of breach applications. As males also accounted for a similar proportion of all new orders (see paragraph 4.3), this suggests that breach applications are as likely to occur for males as for females.
4.12 An outcome of revoked and custody was more common amongst males (14 per cent) than females (9 per cent). Order continued and no further action was a more likely outcome for females (13 per cent) than for males (11 per cent).
Terminations of Community Service Orders
4.13 A total of 4,813 CSOs (excluding Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work) were terminated in 2004-05, an increase of 13 per cent from the 2003-04 total of 4,261. Seventy per cent of these orders were successfully completed including 6 per cent with an early discharge following a review. Seventeen per cent of orders were revoked following a breach application to the courts and the remaining 13 per cent were terminated for other reasons (including transfer to another area and death of the offender). Terminations of Probation Orders with a Requirement of Unpaid Work are included in section 5.
Number of terminations of CSOs (1) by reason, 2001-02 to 2004-05
Chart 11
4.14 Females (74 per cent) were slightly more likely to complete their orders successfully (including early discharge following review) than males (70 per cent). Males were more likely to have their orders revoked following a breach (18 per cent) than females (13 per cent).
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