Next, On The Discovery Channel's 'Extreme Professions'...

...'Chalk Carving: Hardcore':

Criminals have been banned from helping to clean up a chalk carving in Brighton as part of their community service because the job is "too dangerous".

Oh, well, of course.

I suppose the organisers had to pay someone to do it, then? Since if it's too dangerous for scum, it's obviously too dangerous for anyone else?

The project to re-carve the hawk on the hill in Whitehawk was instead carried out by children as young as five.

/facepalm

Mr Silsby said his own risk assessment had shown the work was so safe children as young as five could take part last month.

He said: "This is part of a health and safety mad, nanny state culture."

Can't really argue with that, can they?

"There are slopes on the hillside, obviously, and a few brambles. That's it. So we supervised the youngest kids and were careful. But the probation service took a different view.

"If we try to eliminate all risk we'll end up in a situation where we end up doing nothing at all.

"We needed every helping hand we could get, and children of all ages came along.

And is the probation service embarassed that they've been shown up to be box-ticking, risk-averse morons?

Well, what do you think?

A Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust spokesman said: "We are required to ensure that we can arrange for offenders to carry out their work in a way that is safe for them and the public.

"Regrettably with this project there was a concern following a risk assessment that the nature of the terrain was such that there could easily be an accident for which Surrey and Sussex Probation Trust could be held liable."

I can bet that none of the 'customers' of this service bothered to run a risk assessment before they climbed in someone's window or stole someone's car...