Wardens to become enforcers

Waltham Forest Council cabinet members decided last week to phase in plans to allow the wardens to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) for crimes such as littering, graffiti, flyposting and nuisance parking.

Set up in 2003, Street Wardens' duties include reporting environmental and maintenance problems and suspicious behaviour, checking empty properties, visiting vulnerable tenants and liaising between communities and the police.

They currently have no enforcement powers and report problems to council officers or the police.

But following a report by consultants Matrix, members decided on an option that would give street wardens the extra powers, with a key focus on their new role.

Cabinet members agreed to pass the proposal despite the Matrix report warning that the credibility of the wardens among some groups could be undermined, that some may leave their job and that they will be seen as being involved in a revenue-collecting exercise.

The report also said that giving street wardens the powers would make enforcement more efficient, as wardens would be able to take direct action.

But Conservative leader Cllr Matt Davis is against the plan which he claims is part of Clyde Loake's "bully-boy agenda."

He said: "Instead of properly funding and resourcing professional enforcement against enviro-crime Labour and the Lib Dems are forcing unwanted new powers on a reluctant street warden service."

The Neighbourhood and Environment Act 2005, which came into force last year, gives councils the power to issue FPNs for environmental crimes. The council will now consult street wardens and trade unions before phasing in the powers in pilot wards later this year.

Wardens will be given training in how to deal with conflict situations and their job description and pay structure will be reviewed.

Conservative deputy leader Cllr Graham Sinclair said: "These powers will totally destroy the strong partnership between local communities and street wardens."

At last night's cabinet meeting members denied that the new powers would be at the expense of the street warden's current duties and said that it would help the council tackle crimes that the police do not see as a priority.

THE new role for Street Wardens will be deeply unpopular and could lead to staff leaving their jobs, according to one warden.

The warden, who did not wish to be named, said: "A lot of Street Wardens are going to be unhappy. This is going to change our persona in the community and affect the way we are viewed.

"Imagine little Tom down the road - we have been giving him guidance, telling him to go to school and stay out of trouble.

"Now, if he commits an environmental crime we will be duty bound to give him a fixed penalty notice, and clearly his mum and dad will not be pleased with us."

The Street Warden said that the whole purpose of the popular service will change.

He said: "The job will become much more confrontational and many of the Street Wardens have said that if it goes down this route they will leave.

"The Street Wardens have been really successful in the community, why change their role?"

COMMUNITY groups have raised concerns about the plans to allow Street Wardens to issue fines.

Beaumont Estate Tenants and Residents Association chairman Brian Wilks said that the estate in Leyton has become a much better place to live since the launch of the street warden scheme.

He said: "The general feeling among the residents is that the street wardens are doing a good job.

"They have made life more bearable for people. They are very visible with their red shirts and are a vital part of the community."

Mr Wilks said that he was concerned that changes to the wardens' powers could damage their relationship with the community - especially young people.

He said: "Can you imagine, one of these youths enjoying being with the wardens and the next moment they are being fined by them because they drop some litter?

"It seems as if the council has got the wrong end of the stick. We have already got Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) so why do we need another organisation?"

POLICE were involved in the decision to grant Street Wardens enforcement powers, said Waltham Forest acting chief inspector of partnership David Moorhead.

Chief Insp Moorhead said: "Waltham Forest police work in partnership with the local authority to prevent crime.

"Plans to allow Street Wardens to issue fixed penalty notices for environmental crimes came about as a result of a pan council enforcement review.

"A firm called Matrix carried out the research and it spoke to police as part of its research and police did sit on the working group."

Insp Moorhead did not clarify exactly what the police's contribution to the research was or what the police's opinion on the move is.

COUNCILLOR Afzal Akram said that the Street Wardens' new powers will not prevent them from continuing their current community work.

Cllr Akram, the council's cabinet member for community safety, said: "I have consulted extensively with wardens and gone on patrol with them to understand the work they do.

"The wardens will carry out enforcement duties to help us efficiently tackle environmental crimes that can blight residents' lives and will continue to carry out their fantastic community engagement and their work with young people."

A report by consultants Matrix said that the purpose of giving Street Wardens the powers is top take advantage of their street presence.

It also said that it would make the enforcement of environmental laws more efficient.

Cllr Akram said: "The Government has granted us these powers and we are keen to make use of them.

"Other boroughs which have used enforcement powers say they have been used successfully and have made a real difference for residents."