'City Guardian'

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 10:20 am

Wandering around Leicester Square in our dear capital last night i came across two men in hi-viz jackets with 'City of Westminster - CITY GUARDIAN' on the back. Does anyone know what a city guardian is? Leon can you explain?

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2004 11:20 pm

i should clarify... i'm not questioning the purpose of street wardens, in london we have pcso's and wardens i have just never come across 'city guardians' before.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 12:51 pm

Hope this answers you questions Joni, info is from the councils web site.....

Westminster City Council has teams of street wardens, called City Guardians, working in the West End, Church Street and Queen’s Park. We want to introduce City Guardian teams in more parts of Westminster, but this depends on external funding, particularly from local businesses.

What do they do?

Patrol and reassure

City Guardians help to make public areas safer and cleaner by patrolling the streets. They help to improve public confidence and safety by showing that public areas are cared for. Working with the police and other council staff, their visible presence can help reduce crime.

Keep the streets clean

With our Street Environment Managers, City Guardians report faulty street lights, dangers on the footpath and work with others to blitz litter, graffiti and abandoned cars.

Work with local people

City Guardians get to know local people and understand their concerns. They act as role models for children and are easy to find in their recognisable uniforms. By doing this and helping with local events, they become part of the community.

Co-ordinate Council services

City Guardians know who to contact and the quickest way of making things happen. By keeping in touch with local people, businesses and visitors, they can be the quickest way to get problems solved.

How do they work with the police?

The Metropolitan Police support and encourage City Guardians, who work with local police officers on a daily basis. There are arrangements to make sure City Guardians support the police but do not replace them. They are trained to be observant and give evidence in court.

What will City Guardians not do?

Make arrests or prosecute people
Issue cautions
Intervene in violent incidents (but they will alert the police and act as witnesses)
What training do City Guardians get?

They start with two weeks of preparatory training. This covers byelaws, street cleansing, dealing with violence, first aid, police reporting and giving evidence. Training is also given on the job, with new
recruits working with an experienced City Guardian for the first four weeks.

How do City Guardians work with other Council officers?

All City Guardians have a radio and are in constant touch with other council teams and the police. The radios are linked into Westminster’s CCTV control centre and in many areas there is camera coverage, as well as radio cover.

City Guardians are not an emergency service. In an emergency dial 999.

How can I identify a City Guardian?

City Guardians wear a uniform comprising grey trousers or skirt with a gold Westminster shirt. In the winter they wear a distinctive blue jacket with ‘City Guardian’ on the back.

Are there other warden schemes in Westminster?

There are a number of other warden schemes run by different organisations:

New West End Company
Red Caps in Oxford Street and Regent Street
Piccadilly Circus Partnership
Rangers around Piccadilly Circus
Paddington Development
Trust Wardens in the Paddington Regeneration area
Trafalgar Square Heritage
Wardens in Trafalgar Square
North Paddington
Neighbourhood Wardens in north Queen's Park. These operate according to a joint agreement between the City Council and the police.
The police also have a uniformed team of Police Community Support Officers, who have limited powers and support regular police officers.

Our City Guardians work closely with all these teams, and together we are forming a warden ‘family’ in Westminster.

Edited by : John - link to this image is no longer available on that website to which it links.

Posted: Wed Feb 04, 2004 9:09 pm

Thanks for that, like i say i've come across a number of wardens around the capital, just never the city guardians, i was just curious as to whether they played a different role.
Thanks again.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2004 12:00 am

Thnks for a very informative post Simon, you saved me a lot of work there Smile

Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:47 am

It sounds just like one big happy family; Laughing

Mr. Blunket will be pleased I’m sure! Very Happy

But how do the police react to the different organizations operating within their boundaries?

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:59 am

In answering my own question, our local police P Div of GMP have been very supportive indeed. Wink

Newbie Joined: Feb 01, 2005 Posts: 24 Location: London

Quote:

How can I identify a City Guardian?

City Guardians wear a uniform comprising grey trousers or skirt with a gold Westminster shirt. In the winter they wear a distinctive blue jacket with ‘City Guardian’ on the back.

Gold shirt... nice
Wink

Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:51 pm

Dave, I dont suppose one of your 'supportive colleagues' could do a PNC check for me?
I know the address the vehicle should be regitered to but somehow don't think it is seeing as the perp has been driving it around for nearly a year with only 5 wheel nuts between both back wheels :smt075

Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2005 2:54 pm

Hi John
I'll try - though as you will know, what you ask is a little naughty!! :smt023 But if you don’t ask you’ll never know.
Please PM or e-mail me the details

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:09 pm

Did you get any joy with the car??

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 1:20 pm

Nope, the escort van is still being driven regularly although he now puts in on the driveway when it is not in use and DVLA have been given an update.
The Vectra comes and goes periodically but he has now acquired yet another car which he keeps on the road - atleast this one has its full complement of wheel nuts even though the tyres make reacing slicks look like all terrain tread LOL