A HARDLINE scheme that docks benefits from criminals who refuse to do community work was scrapped yesterday, when the government admitted it did not work.

Ministers announced that a pilot scheme - running in Teesside and three other areas for seven years - was being abandoned after it failed to force the offenders to carry out their sentences.

Initially, there was a "modest 1.8 per cent improvement", but even that was not maintained the longer the scheme continued, the Ministry of Justice admitted.

Furthermore, it would cost about £652,000 to continue in the four trial areas - which worked out at £5.60 for every £1 that would be saved.

The abandonment - slipped out in a written statement, late on a Friday afternoon - has implications for other government policies to tackle bad behaviour through draconian sanctions, such as cutting benefits.

Steve Webb, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, said: "Once again, the government wanted to sound tough without bothering too much about whether a scheme actually works. "This scheme was introduced more than seven years ago and ministers have finally been forced to admit that it was an expensive waste of time. "We need to do more to prevent crime in the first place, including making sure that people in prison learn skills to equip them to contribute to society when they come out of prison, rather than introduce expensive gimmicks just to look tough."

The scheme was meant to tackle refusal to carry out community orders, which force offenders to bring derelict areas and buildings back into public use by clearing church yards, repairing park benches and removing graffiti.

They may also be required to undergo regular drug tests and agree to drug treatment, or face more punitive measures such as curfews.

The announcement leaves courts with two possible responses to breaches - imposing a tougher order, or revoking it altogether and dealing with the offence afresh, including the power to send the offender to prison for up to 51 weeks.

Justice Minister David Hanson said compliance with community orders was at a record level and increasing, with 75 per cent reaching the six month stage without the need for breach action.