Street wardens
Croydon's Street Warden Scheme
Our Street Warden Scheme is identified as one of the best in London.
The Government Office for London recently reviewed Croydon's Street Warden Scheme and concluded that it is one the best schemes operating in the London Area. Examples of some of the reasons why are as follows:
Working with the Police to tackle local concerns
Joint action between the Street Wardens and the Police has produced excellent results in recent weeks. Leaflets were hand delivered by the Street Wardens to residents in target areas suffering an increase in burglaries. Providing appropriate and timely crime prevention advice helps to reduce the number of crime incidents but perhaps more importantly, also helps to reduce the fear of crime.
Further evidence of the successful joint approach was provided by increasing the number of high visibility joint patrols between the Street Wardens and the Police in the town centre. After a two-week period, reports of robberies had dropped from 28 to 19. This work is ongoing and the CCTV Operation Team and Council Mobile Enforcement team also play a key part in the joint approach.
Working for a safer college
The Street Wardens conducted a series of workshops at Croydon College. A lively debate ensued when discussing personal safety and the dangers and consequences of knife crime with students. The wardens received great feedback from both tutors and students and these workshops proved to be very successful in stimulating student discussion and interest. A positive outcome resulted in the College requesting Street Warden patrols within the college at lunchtime to help deter anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime experienced by college students. A total of 253 patrols have been conducted so far.
Edenham High School, Shirley
Following on from the success of the 468 Partnership Project, the Street Wardens have been tasked with providing support to Edenham school with the deployment of a small team of Wardens conducting high visibility patrols to help tackle 'after school' issues.
The main aim is to speed up crowd dispersal away from the school gates and reduce the fear of crime experienced by some local residents and many of the young people themselves, the majority of whom do not behave anti-socially. Actions include supervision at the nearest bus stops to reduce rowdy behaviour and patrolling local shops and parks etc.
The Street Wardens also conducted a series of presentations to pupils and teachers outlining their roles within the community, and their role at Edenham school. They discussed issues such as personal safety, anti-social behaviour and the commencement of the patrols. These presentations were well received and the pupils were very vocal and proactive. The wardens are also engaging with the pupils via a survey, to help identify what the issues are for them and inform future service provision and action.
Not content with engaging with the school the Wardens then offered to lend a hand and paint the local playground equipment.
For more information about the Street Wardens, please contact Cheryll Jones-Wright.
Contact Details
- Contact name
- Kidson, Darren
- Job title
- Community Protection
- Telephone
- 020 8726 6000 ext 61819
- darren.kidson@croydon.gov.uk
