A Community Order consists of at least one of 12 possible requirements. The requirement(s) will differ according to the individual offender and the offence committed. Courts are able to choose different requirements to make up a bespoke Community Order. For example, a Community Order passed on an offender who commits crimes and has an alcohol addiction will differ from an order for someone who offends and has mental health problems.

An order can run for up to three years. There is no mimimum duration, but some of the requirements have a minimum number of hours that must be imposed.

Requirements

Unpaid Work
Offenders carry out unpaid work from between 40-300 hours.  For example, clearing pathways, removing grafitti, helping disabled people, renovating property, and helping in charity shops.  In West Mercia around 90,000 hours of compulsory unpaid work are carried out each year benefiting local communities.
Download Unpaid work leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)
More about Unpaid Work.

Specified Activities
For example education and training which can lead to an offender gaining independent educational and vocational qualifications.
Download Specified Activity leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)
Download Specified Activity (education, training and employment) leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Programmes
Aimed at changing an offender's behaviour.  These are accredited programmes designed to address the attitudes and patterns of behaviour that contribute to offending.  For example, a programme designed to address drug related offending.
Download Programmes leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)
More about Programmes.

Prohibited Activity
The offender must refrain from participating in specified activities on a day or days or during a certain period for up to 36 months. This might include, for example, not attending a football match.
Download Prohibited Activity leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Curfew
The offender must remain in an agreed place for specified hours, for example, someone convicted of a night time burglary may be confined to their home during the night. A curfew requirement is electronically monitored.
Download Curfew leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Exclusion
The offender is excluded from entering a specified place or area for a period of up to two years. This might include for example, certain streets or shops.
Download Exclusion leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Residence
The offender must reside at a specified address.  This might be an approved hostel or a private address. A Residence Requirement can be specified for up to three years.
Download Residence leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)
More about Probation Hostels.

Mental Health Treatment
The offender may be required to undergo treatment for a mental health problem.  This can be specified for up to three years.

Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR)
The offender is required to have treatment to address their drug misuse and drug related lifestyle. The offender will have to provide samples for tesing when requested. A Drug Rehabilitation Requirement can be specified for between six months and three years.
Download Drug Rehabilitation Requirement leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Alcohol Treatment
The offender is required to attend treatment to reduce or eliminate dependence on alcohol.
Download Alcohol Treatment leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Supervision
Requires the offender to attend regular appointments with the probation service. During the supervision period work will be undertaken with the offender to change attitudes and behavior, for example:

• monitor and review patterns of behaviour
• increase motivation
• provide practical support to increase compliance with the order
• support and reinforce learning
• deliver pre and post work for accredited programmes
• modelling pro-social behaviour

Download Supervision leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)

Attendance Centre
The offender must attend at an attendance centre for between 12 and 36 hours. This is only available for adults aged 18 to 24.
Download Attendance Centre leaflet for offenders (PDF - 52k)