CRIMINALS could carry out community work in schools across Thurrock.

The proposed Community Payback scheme, devised by the Probation Service, will be piloted in the borough after it was approved at the latest council cabinet meeting.

If rolled out across the country, it would replace traditional community service and see offenders carrying out unpaid labour wearing high visibility jackets.

The controversial project is hoped to present offenders in a more positive light, and it will be down to individual schools whether they take part or not.

Councillor Joy Redsell said: “Parents would express concern, even outrage about this. Is there any way we can make sure parents are informed?

“If mums go out with kids on school trips they have to be CRB checked. I have concerns about this.”

Fellow cabinet member Neil Rockliffe said: “Can’t we just say that we are not comfortable for this to occur in school time? In fact, can’t we just say no – end of?”

Councillor Tunde Ojetola added: “As a school governor myself I would be very concerned.”

Their calls for the work to be banned during term-time drew disapproving looks and head shakes from a few members of the cabinet, who said the decision did not rest with the council, but with headteachers.

Gwen Bankole-Jones, the council’s head of legal services, said that the council couldn’t tell the schools what to do.

Sue Macpherson, the cabinet member for children’s services, said: “Headteachers will not put any of our children in any danger, I can give you that assurance.

“I think we should leave it to the headteachers, we can’t micromanage.”