Criminals doing unpaid work in the community are putting probation staff and the public at risk with an increase in physical and verbal abuse, it was claimed today.

Supervisors, often working for an hourly wage with minimum training, are said to be often so scared of reprisals from crooks carrying out menial tasks as part of their Community Payback sentences that they are reluctant to report them.

Last month, a 19-year-old man was shot five times as he left a community service site in Clapton, east London.

Fears that the attack, and others like it, were gang-related have led to staff being unable to send known gang members to do placements anywhere other than the individuals’ own area, probation union Napo said.

In Merseyside, probation staff were tipped off by a high security prison that an inmate claimed he had the means to have a probation officer shot.

Other reports suggest a barrage of threats and abuse against supervisors from criminals who refused to carry out the work, which can include cleaning canals and cutting overgrowth.

Harry Fletcher, Napo’s assistant general secretary, warned today standards were slipping amid biggergroups and a lack of staff resources and training.

He said: “If it is to be run by increasingly untrained and intimidated staff, often working alone, and if action isn’t taken to decrease threats, both verbal and physical, then the public will continue to be at risk.”

Last year, the Express & Star revealed how a third of criminals in the West Midlands were flouting the orders. More than 5,000 convicts, including those found guilty of theft and carrying knives, were given Community Payback in the region

Ali Bell, spokeswoman for Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation, said: “Public protection is our top priority. All placements are thoroughly risk assessed and supervised by staff trained in health and safety Issues, first aid and dealing with aggression.

“The vast majority of offenders sentenced to Community Payback are not dangerous. Incidents where Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation staff have been victims of violence are very rare, and this service has not seen an increase in physical abuse of our staff.”