Chief Probation Officer Brian Heath MBE explained that the service is working on ways to provide clients with accreditation for the skills they have gained while carrying out their order.

"This is something some of your clients have been asking for. It is something good for them to have. It will require a little bit of extra work to keep a record of what they have done. It will give them an accreditation in the work they have been doing, whether it's in the use of an equipment or health and safety," he said.

Pictured: A chart of the different projects community service hours were worked on. 

The scheme will be available on an opt-in basis to all islanders going through community service. Mr Heath explained: "Some clients won't want it, others won't bother. But for those who have no qualifications, it will make them through the first stage into getting one. It's all about giving people credit in a reasonable manner.

"Community Service is not designed to help people gain qualifications but if it can be a by-product of the order, that's all the more positive. People have to do the punishment. They have offended the community so they are repaying the community by being as useful as possible. But why not give them a certificate showing what they have learned?"

The Probation and After-Care Service is currently in talks with Highlands College to identify which official body would be the best to give out the qualifications. It is hoped the scheme will be introduced later this year.

While an accreditation scheme might lead community service clients to try and pick and choose which tasks they will undertake, Mr Heath has reminded this is not how the service works. He explained: "We try fitting people into the work, not the other way around. Where people have specific skills we will try to use them. But community service is not voluntary work and we can only do with the work that is available. Non profit organisations approach us with work that could suit the clients."