Newport wardens(Wales) to focus on environmental tasks

NTRC

Article from South Wales Argus 4th October 2009...

COMMUNITY safety wardens in Newport are set to spend less time dealing with incidents of anti-social behaviour and more on tackling environmental crimes like fly-tipping, graffiti, litter, and dog fouling.

But a leading city policeman warned he does not have the resources to handle thousands of extra incidents a year that may come the force's way as a result.

The £800,000-a-year community safety warden service recorded some 10,000 incidents of anti-social behaviour last year.

Supt Julian Knight of Gwent Police told city councillors in an overview and scrutiny forum: "We have increased resources (in the city) but if you suddenly give me 10,000 more incidents to deal with, I cannot do it."

The use of dispersal orders to combat anti-social behaviour in Newport is being reviewed and Supt Knight told the Argus earlier this week that as an immediate response they are like "using a hammer to crack a nut."

Newport Safety Partnership, involving the council and Gwent Police, is looking at working more closely with youth organisations, to provide more facilities for youths, as a part of a strategy in which dispersal orders are only one aspect.

The overview and scrutiny forum which met to consider the proposed change of emphasis for the warden service, and Superintendent Knight said success on anti-social behaviour is not necessarily about the immediate response but a longer term process.

"We will endeavour to fulfil our responsibilities regarding anti-social behaviour. My gut feeling is, we will have a gap (if the warden service is reorganised), but we will eventually be in a better place. We must tackle causes of anti social behaviour rather than just chase the symptoms."

Forum members voted 3-2 to shift the focus of the service, which has 20 wardens, toward environmental crime, though anti-social behaviour issues will not be abandoned completely.

David Fouweather, cabinet member for environment and community safety, will make a final decision later this month.

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