Ministry of Justice data cited by multiple outlets reports that in England and Wales courts issue a large number of unpaid work orders each year, but some are not carried out. For the year to March 2025, courts issue 53,685 unpaid work orders. Of those, 3,200 are reported as never started. The figures indicate that non-compliance can occur either when offenders abandon the requirement after it is imposed or when they do not begin the unpaid work in the first place. The reports describe these cases as effectively treating community service as optional, based on the gap between orders issued and work actually commenced. While the data focuses on orders that are not started, it does not provide full detail on the reasons in the material reviewed, such as whether cases involve enforcement outcomes, administrative factors, or other circumstances. The overall pattern highlighted is a discrepancy between court sentencing and the start of unpaid work sentences.