Welcome

Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2003 11:04 am

This is the start of a forum topic that will hopefully become ancillary to the Security section. The idea is to allow Neighbourhood Wardens, Community Wardens, Street Wardens and Street Crime Wardens the opportunity to discuss ideas.

As most of you will be aware, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister provides a forum for Managers a Supervisors of schemes. I have tried to gain their support in setting up this forum to allow the "rank and file" staff to also have their say. Unfortunately they have refused to support it as they are concerened that it will take away from theirs.

I would be very keen to now prove them right. If any non Warden people would like further information on Warden schemes then plaese let me know.

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2003 10:09 am

I know this is a relativley new area but for those that are completely in the dark - like me, any chance of a breif summary on their roles and responsibilities so we can see exactly the type of work this involves?

Who knows, some of us might find this of sufficient interest to look for a career change!

Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2003 5:03 pm

Apologies for the delay in writing this but I hope it helps.

Warden schemes are a new idea that was developed in light of the changes under the Police Reform Act. This culminated in the setting up of both Police Community Support Officers (PCSO's) and Wardens. The former are employed by the Police and the latter by a combination on Local Councils, Housing Trusts and Local Corporations. This article will concentrate on the Wardens.

The majority of Warden Schemes started off being funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime minister (DPRM) through the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU). The majority of funding was initially provided for two years but in most cases this has already been extended for a further year (most schemes until March 2006). The idea is that the Warden schemes will then be funded locally. The NRU funding pays for wages, equipment and training. The Wardens are actually employed by either the Local Authority or other bodies as mentioned above. These organisations pay for the Management costs and accommodation plus day to day running costs such as stationary. There are currently approximately 240 schemes operating throughout the Country.

There are a number of different Warden Schemes in place. There is still a bit of confusion over the definitions even within the schemes themselves. They can generally be broken down as follows.

Estate Wardens - Cover Housing Estates.
Street / Community Wardens - Cover Housing Estates and surrounding residential areas.
Street Crime Wardens - Cover Commercial Areas.

This is a very generalist breakdown as these can be combined.

Although it does rely on the specific location / aim, the general aims of the schemes are similar. The remit is to:

Reduce the fear of crime
Reduce the act of crime
Reduce anti-social behaviour
Reduce Environmental Crime (graffiti, fly-tipping etc.)
Provide an eyes and ears function to other agencies
Empower the community to work with their area

Wardens currently do not have any powers other than "any person powers". A recent change is that each scheme can apply for Police Accreditation which will allow them to have further limited powers although this is at the pilot stage. The aim of the Wardens is not to be a third tier of the Police Force but to provide a service in an area that is lacking. They will be a face to face contact for local people and businesses and this has already proved a winning formula.

A large number of experts are already saying that in five years you will not remember not having Wardens. In my personal experience, I can only agree.

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 5:21 am

Leon,
Is there any chance on an update on the national state of play within the “wardens” sector

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2004 6:23 pm

In the hope of not sounding ignorant do you want to define what you mean. Do you mean number of schemes or more what changes have been made (don't hold your breath) since the last post.

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2004 8:26 pm

Sorry Leon, Embarassed

To clarify can you provide some info on the number of schemes, the amount of wardens involved and finally what is the publics view on wardens

My employers have supplied 20 wardens to “The West End Company” to cover Bond St, Oxford St, and Regent St. You may have seen them they are the poor sods walking round with red topped peaked caps, red epaulettes and a red tie
Mr. Green

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 8:47 am

Having now moved on from the above posts employment, I’m now awaiting clearance to start as a Neighbourhood Warden in my hometown. This is the first time wardens have been used here, has anyone any advice or can give a reference to some useful reading material. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:23 pm

Dave,

Good luck mate.

Just watch out for the odd air-rifle pellet in the ass, the spitting, verbal abuse, bottles hurled out of the darkness, the "Exorcist" vomit jet and of course.........our lovely winter weather.

Other than that, it should be a piece of cake Wink

Seriously, best wishes mate.

Mike.

Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:24 pm

Good Luck Dave in your new post.

Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 24, 2004 Posts: 25

Hi Dave

Good luck

Cheers Philip

Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 7:17 pm

Best Wishes IN YOUR NEW JOB DAVE
bigyin

Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 4:26 pm

I would prresume that you are going to do the Wardens Training Course rn by SHITO? It as actually a good course. The best place to get informations is on the Officer of the Deputy Prime Ministers website. There are numerous news letters and forums available to wardens and your scheme manager will have details of this.

On a not so good note. The Warden scheme I started up has now been wound up although it was meant to run until March 05. The reason for this is since me leaving for a new role last year they have done nothing. Not to blow my own trumpet but it goes to show things will only work with the right people. I am annoyed as it feels that all the work and hours I put in was for nothing, the promotion and increased pay does make it a bit easier to swallow though.

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 2:17 pm

Thanks for all your kind posts and sorry to have been away from the site for a while!

This Warden job - What have I let myself in for??

The training I have had to date has been first-rate and from many different organizations such as: - Police, Victim Support, Rochdale Diversity Centre to name but a few. Hopefully we’ll be pounding the streets mid January, and the response from the public we have met so far has been overwhelming!

For those of you those are lucky enough to get the chance to join a warden scheme, my advise would go for it you will not regret it!

Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2004 2:25 pm

Hi Dave
There seems to be much talk of late about Wardens (and preumably all thos within the exended Police family) gaining extra powers e.g. power to detain for up to 30 minutes ( :smt017 ) have you been given any information on this?

Posted: Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:12 am

To be honest I have not had any info on this subject, :smt022 our scheme has adopted to divorce ourselves from the police :smt014 (though still working closely with them), and we not have a enforcement role (our steering group wishes; not the polices) this is hopefully going to help gain the trust of some of the sceptical members of the community namely the teenagers as they are the target of interest of the police and others :smt062 (the elderly, who do not like the kids playing football etc) I’ll try and keep you all posted as to what is going on!