PEOPLE in Waltham Forest will be able to choose which punishment is given to criminals handed community service orders, under a scheme launched today.

The borough is one of 50 trial areas in England and Wales where residents can take part in an online poll to choose their preferred option from five projects.

The most popular project will then be adopted by the Probation Service.

The trial forms part of the Government’s Payback scheme, which has seen high-visibility jackers introduced for offenders when they are doing community service.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw said it is crucial that taxpayers have a say on what punishments offenders receive.

He said: "People have a right to know what offenders are doing in their neighbourhood to repay for the wrongs committed.

"We are determined to open up the justice system. Recent steps to do this include the appointment of a dedicated Victims Champion, giving distinctive orange jackets to offenders and now ensuring the public knows they have a say in punishing offenders."

Shadow justice secretary Dominic Grieve described the scheme as a “gimmick” and said that prisoners are released too and there is an over-reliance on “out of court sanctions”.