Community Wardens begin work with local groups

South Holland District Council’s two new community wardens have begun their work in the district, engaging with local groups and targeting areas of the community to help build relationships before beginning their regular patrols.

The wardens, whose roles were created after the authority was successful in bidding for £127,000 from the government's Controlling Migration scheme, will perform uniformed patrols in a bid to develop safer and stronger communities.

The scheme aims to address concerns around anti-social behaviour and community safety by reassuring residents with factual information and building cohesive community relationships.

They want to achieve this through enforcement, education and greater awareness, along with the signposting of vulnerable members of the community to targeted support.

The wardens will be able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices and take enforcement action when necessary and will feed back to the Community Safety and Enforcement Team with any concerns that are raised.

They will become a recognisable and approachable face to the public, and will deliver education packages to schools and businesses around cultural norms and other ways to help bring the community together.

In starting to carry out these duties, the wardens recently met with a migrant worker forum in Spalding, where they introduced themselves and gave an explanation of their duties, before listening to concerns and issues the group wished to raise.

A key part of the wardens’ work will be around myth-busting preconceptions around the council and the district, and helping to ensure that routes for seeking assistance and reporting problems are clearly open to everyone who needs them.

Coun Gary Taylor (pictured below), the council's portfolio holder for communities and facilities, said: "It is great news that our two new wardens are starting to get out and about and begin making a positive difference to communities across South Holland.

We are constantly striving to create a safe and strong community

"They will both work closely with residents to provide a reassuring presence and help to build trust and lasting community relationships through greater understanding and communication.

“We are constantly striving to create a safe and strong community that all our residents can feel they are an important part of and the wardens will help achieve this through enforcement, education and raising awareness."

The wardens will be in place for at least two years. If you have any anti-social behaviour, community safety or other concerns you would like to report, please report it here or call the council on 01775 761161.