New warden service to tackle anti-social behaviour
Council tenants troubled by anti-social behaviour on their estates are to benefit from a new out-of-hours, mobile safety warden service. The Sheffield Homes Safer Estates Warden Service, will be a highly mobile, highly visible operation that will focus on tackling and deterring nuisance behaviour across the city, when it is launched later this year.
Jon Lovibond, Director of Housing Management at Sheffield Homes, said: “Anti-social behaviour and tackling it through an increased presence on the streets were key issues in the recent General Election. Sheffield Homes works closely with Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Police to tackle anti-social behaviour. We are committed to providing a safer, more secure environment for all our tenants. This new service will complement the existing work that we do.”
The Safer Estates Warden Service will be in addition to Neighbourhood Warden Services already operating on various estates around the city. The new team will operate, where appropriate, from highly visible vehicles and will be managed by the Sheffield Homes Safer Estates Unit. The wardens will:
- work in close collaboration with the police and local groups, including gathering evidence for enforcement action
- patrol problem `hot spots’
- deter and, where appropriate, tackle or prevent, nuisance behaviour
- constantly review and report on troublespots and behaviour
- focus on all `quality of life’ issues for tenants
The service will run from 1pm until 10pm. This is based on police records, which show the majority of youth nuisance calls are during these times. Back up will come from the existing Sheffield Homes Emergency Response Team, which operates overnight. Initially set up to support victims of racial abuse, the service is now extended to all victims of harassment who are connected to the city-wide alarm service.
The new Local Area Boards will help identify their own `hot spots’ while the Safer Estates Unit will review these regularly and adapt the service where needed. It will also work in conjunction with the `It’s Your Call’ initiative set up in February this year, where residents can report incidents.
“We’re very excited about the scheme,” said Jon Lovibond. “We know it’s what people want and we’re delighted to be able to deliver the goods. Current estate-based wardens are patrolling areas and are a point of contact and help for residents, but dealing with anti-social behaviour is not their primary role. They need the back-up as much as our tenants need the reassurance. We believe these new safety wardens will not only be a welcome sight to residents on our estates, they will help to deter anti-social behaviour and, where it does persist, help provide evidence to the police to ensure it’s stamped out.”
ENDS
Editors’ notes: Sheffield Homes has recently completed the setting up of 10 Local Area Boards - which include elected tenant members - to help manage all housing issues in their area. Sheffield Homes currently manage three estate-based warden schemes:
- Neighbourhood Wardens in Low Edges, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe
- Street Wardens at Brightside, Flower and Wincobank
- Community Wardens at Burngreave
They are also establishing Neighbourhood Warden Schemes at Manor Castle, Upperthorpe and Netherthorpe. All estate-based warden schemes (Areas D, J and K - as well as the new ones in E & F) will be known by the same name - Neighbourhood Wardens - in future.
PRESS CONTACT: Neil Anderson on 0114 225 7080 (office) or 0777 929 2212 (mobile).