Do the neighbourhood warden schemes being set up across the UK have a future? Yes, says one co-ordinator.
Do the neighbourhood warden schemes being set up across the UK have a future’ Yes, says one co-ordinator. David Roberts, ex-RAF Police, in civilian life has worked as a security supervisor for the Birmingham Evening Mail and and shortly afterwards was given responsibility for a sister newspaper, the Coventry Evening Telegraph. He has been a regional manager for a manned guarding security company and has worked for the civil service security, before becoming community warden coordinator for Walsall Housing Regeneration Agency (WHRA).
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The simple answer to the title question is without doubt YES. Community Warden schemes are being set up in various locations throughout the country.
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The Home Office sets the parameters for the vetting of recruits and there are stringent procedures for the project managers to achieve. Initially, the Police Federation voiced their concerns about the schemes. I, for one joined the scheme for Walsall Housing Regeneration Agency (WHRA) with mixed feelings. How would we project a professional agency to our audience, the community of Walsall’ My fears were quickly put to rest when I understood the range of aims of the scheme: <br>
– to reduce crime and fear of crime in the community by providing a physical presence on the streets at key times;<br>
– to support groups at risk from crime and anti-social behaviour, to increase their confidence and quality of life;<br>
– to develop initiatives with groups at risk from social exclusion and in contact with the justice system;<br>
– to assist local people in gaining access to services offered by the local authority and other agencies;<br>
– to create a secure and welcoming environment for new residents; and <br>
– to encourage the reporting of crime.<br><br>
The WHRA wardens achieve these goals by:
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– regular ‘walking the area’ sessions at what are perceived by residents as critical periods, for instance, early morning, end of school, and early evening;<br>
– providing information to the relevant police sector area, the local authority and other statutory agencies and housing associations;
– making contact with residents and businesses, attending local events, and providing practical assistance in crime prevention initiatives, neighbourhood services and community projects;
– providing information on safe routes to school and shops, and so on, and being a friendly eye for isolated residents;<br>
– developing links with vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young people and repeat victims of crime, to establish closer links with victim support and other volunteer schemes;<br>
– links to mediation services for neighbour disputes;<br>
– reporting abandoned cars, faulty streetlights, fly tipping and other common environmental issues to appropriate authorities.
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A pilot project during 1998-9 contributed to a 23 per cent decrease in crime across the Brownhills area of Walsall, and led to the Home Office bid. WHRA was successful in a two-year bid for 11 wardens to be employed in four areas of Walsall borough. Each area has different environmental requirements and criminal activities: from drug and prostitution to extreme-right groups. All areas have a vast mixture of culture and religious beliefs. Most other (admittedly not all) schemes do not cover the wide spectrum of the community; they concentrate on a small housing estate or part of a district and build a family-type relationship with their community. But Walsall wanted wardens working in a large district, without spreading themselves too thinly.
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Training
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Therefore, a substantial training package was developed. All WHRA wardens were given a month’s training and instruction from various agencies, including the West Midlands Police. Training was tailored to non-confrontational patrolling, acting as expert witnesses for anti-social behaviour, and having a good knowledge of local amenities. Instruction and lectures were given on the following: communication skills, including non-verbal, written and listening skills; conflict management; assertiveness and stress management; crime prevention; the Data Protection Act; drug information; Health and Safety at Work; first aid; street care and environmental; anti-Social and sub-criminal behaviour; victim support; racial and cultural diversity; Crime and Disorder Act 1998; crime and disorder in the community; West Midlands Fire Service information; understanding groups in the community; risk assessment; scenes of crime; customer care; marketing, PR and press.
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During the initial weeks from going live, the wardens marketed themselves by highly-visible patrolling, mainly concentrating on retail areas. In the latter parts of the month the Wardens patrolled the community area and were received in a warm and courteous manner by residents. The public, police, community centres, Neighbourhood Offices and Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators disseminated information for the wardens to follow up and report back on. The strength of the WHRA scheme is that all of the wardens work from a designated police station where they receive briefs from nominated police sergeants before going on duty. Feedback is given to the police through paperwork. It was noted that a lot of wardens schemes are having great difficulty in recruiting females and also retaining trained staff. WHRA was extremely fortunate when we recruited three females and eight males. The experience brought by the wardens to the scheme was from a large spectrum: an ex-policeman, prison officer, care workers, charity worker, community worker and fitness instructor plus two security officers. They also represent the different ages, genders, cultures, and religions of the community. To work with and interact with other agencies is extremely important. WHRA identified this at a very early stage and is continuing to identify professional agencies to work with, such as: Street Care; Chambers of Commerce; Mediation Service; Victim Support; West Midlands Fire Service; registered social landlords; NACRO and Foyer; and youth centres and schools.
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Wardens call-in centre
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A call-in centre is opening shortly as a drop-in centre for information and reporting of any grievances. It will also house a West Midlands Police crime prevention display, and Fire Service leaflets.
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Evidence of performance
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After one month of going live, the WHRA wardens addressed 238 incidents and occurrences, which wardens either found or were asked to attend, and covered from anti-social behaviour and crime prevention, to reporting abandoned vehicles and rubbish dumping to environmental issues. I strongly believe that the warden scheme has a future working in partnership with the community to deliver a safe and secure environment. They are extra eyes and ears for the police and various other agencies, including housing associations, the local authority and environmental agencies. Wardens are not second tier policing; they should build a professional relationship with security companies who protect local industry, blue chip firms and retail areas, to name a few. The common aim of all parties is to prevent crime, although they all work in different fields.
