More wardens to make streets safer (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

More wardens to make streets safer

September 6, 2002 12:00 AM

Liberal Democrat controlled Islington Council has been awarded £842k for 12 extra wardens who will patrol crime hot spots in Archway, Upper St, Holloway, Finsbury Park. These additional wardens will join the 14 who are already making a difference to over 14,300 households living in the Caledonian Road area of the borough. The wardens, who are expected to be on the streets by Christmas this year will work in partnership with the police to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, as part of the Government's street crime crackdown. Wardens provide a visual presence and have a variety of duties which include patrolling; reporting environmental or maintenance problems; reporting suspicious behaviour to the police; responding to minor incidents of anti-social behaviour and low level neighbourhood disputes; checking empty properties; visiting vulnerable tenants and acting as a source of communication between local communities and the police. They also help rebuild community confidence by reducing crime and the fear of crime; deterring anti-social behaviour; caring for the physical appearance and management of the neighbourhood and dealing in with issues around social inclusion. Cllr Laura Willoughby, executive member for communities said: "We already have wardens in some parts of the borough that are great success - people feel safer, anti social behavior has been reduced and they have fostered a greater sense of community. These new wardens will be a visible presence patrolling on our high streets and will make a big difference to those who live, work and visit Islington." All wardens across London will be able to exchange ideas and best practice at a new support network - the London Warden Forum. The forum will help develop an effective forum for local and regional inter-agency co-operation; develop joint initiatives with common interest groups; collect publicise and communicate information by using good ideas from other warden schemes, public and private sector organisations and other cities and in facilitating good practice aimed at improving warden efficiency, effectiveness, professionalism and propriety across London.