IT'S often hard to retain confidence in a justice system that seems to cosset offenders and discard the victims.

But there does appear to be some light in the gloom.

In Little Lever, six offenders carrying out community punishment volunteered to help St Matthews Church vicar John Wiseman.

As a result, they have been busy washing cars, weeding gardens and generally improving the area, and at the same time raising money for charity.

Aptly, this has resulted in more than £3,000 for Victim Support.

It has also given community punishment a better name, and showed that offenders can be rehabilitated to help local people - many of whom have probably been victims of crime already.

At the same time, it is reported that a pioneering education project has helped more than 100 Bolton offenders stay out of trouble.

The scheme is run by Greater Manchester Probation Area and the Learning Skills Council. It started in January after research found that people who can't read, write or do sums are far more likely to be jobless, homeless, committing offences or in prison.

So, offenders had tuition to gain GCSE passes in English and Maths. And, as John Ormsby of the Bolton Probation Service stated, it has helped many turn their life around.

Some now want to go on and study a language or get further qualifications, and this can only be for the good.

If your life is helpless and hopeless, crime can seem attractive. Not only is this the easy way, but also often the only way out you can see.

This is not to excuse anyone from committing a crime - and there are many who are just plain evil - but the despair is transparent.

Giving people a realistic second chance seems a sensible way forward for offenders, especially when it serves the local community in such a practical way.

And it is obvious to anyone with a shred of common sense that a lack of education can stunt normal life development (who needs research?). So offering a sound educational second chance is definitely the way to go.

Let's hope we hear far more about these heartening new approaches, which should be reflected in future crime figures.