As Prisons and Probation Minister, Alex rolled out Community Payback which sees offenders put to work on projects which directly benefit the community most harmed by the crimes.
Alex has now developed the scheme further, announcing that rapid deployment teams - made up of offenders serving Community Payback sentences, kitted out in high vis jackets - will be sent out to carry out clean-ups, within 48 hours of cases being reported to the Probation Service.
The pilot will see offenders carry out up to 20,000 hours of hard graft in just 6 months, ensuring that they are paying for their crimes while giving back to the communities they have harmed.
Alex said:
"Anti-social behaviour is a blight on our society and can leave proud neighbourhoods feeling neglected.
"These rapid deployment teams will mean eyesores are dealt with swiftly to restore community pride and ensure convicts are made to give back to the communities they have offended against."