MY niece was made redundant five months ago and had to undergo the embarrassing ordeal of signing on for Jobseekers allowance.

During this period of being stigmatised with labels like "sponger" and "parasite" etc, she has been unable to obtain gainful employment.

As she is now branded with the added title “work shy” she has been rewarded with 160 hours unpaid working in the community.

As far as I’m aware she has not yet been issued with an ASBO or tagged yet, but I would like to know if it is now a criminal act to be unemployed?

For the record, my niece is certainly not work shy and would welcome the chance to earn a wage enabling her to pay her way and be a responsible and equal member of society.

Kev Mcstravick, Darlington.