This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Evaluation backs community wardens initiative
23/03/2007
A 30-month study examining the impact and implementation of community warden schemes across Scotland, was published today.
The researchers said that overall there was statistical, survey and anecdotal evidence that wardens are making a positive difference where they operate.
The draft findings of a separate economic evaluation of warden schemes, undertaken as part of a wider study of ASB strategies, conclude that evidence from local case studies suggests they are having a positive impact on reducing antisocial behaviour and represent good value for money.
Deputy Justice Minister Johann Lamont said:
"The public rightly expects national and local government to tackle not only serious crime, but also the so-called lower level acts of disorder which can blight too many of our communities.
"Our police forces - boosted by an additional 1,500 officers since 1999 - have helped cut crime, including violent crime, and maintain clear-up rates at historically high levels in recent years.
"At the same time, unprecedented action has been taken to ensure all types of antisocial behaviour are tackled by local authorities and police - with the help of new powers and dedicated resources provided by this Executive.
"More than 500 community wardens across Scotland play an important part in that effort - both complementing and directly supporting the work of police and council ASB teams. I welcome the findings that show they are playing a positive role - a view that I have heard directly from people in many of the communities where wardens are operating.
"The evaluation highlights the different approaches across Scotlandand importantly highlights those areas of good practice, from which all schemes can learn and so focus their services to help build safer, stronger communities for all."
Good practice from local warden schemes highlighted in the report, include: co-location and strong relationships with community safety partners in Perthand East Renfrewshire; problem solving approaches in South Lanarkshire; and information sharing and community engagement in Dundee.
Factors identified as key to wardens' success, include:
- Good interpersonal skills
- Flexibility to respond to demands where and when they arise
- Independence from other agencies to help build community relations
- Deployment which visibly responds to local concerns
- Close working with other agencies
- Communicating with young people to explain impact of antisocial behaviour, when appropriate, rather than taking 'authoritarian' approach
- Even-handedness
The report recommendations include:
- Closer links between funding for wardens schemes and severity of crime and antisocial behaviour
- Provision of advice on setting appropriate and meaningful baselines, targets and comparators
- Assessment and provision of appropriate training, including health and safety issues
- Central guidance on salaries, career development and working conditions for Scotland-wide initiatives
- Consideration of collaboration and staff exchanges to share experiences and good practice for national schemes
Background:
The evaluation was undertaken over a 30-month period by GEN Consulting and draws upon a variety of sources of evidence, including case studies, analysis of crime and antisocial behaviour statistics and surveys.
A total of £20m was made available over 2004-06 to enable the development of a community warden scheme in each of Scotland's 32 local authority areas.
Executive funding supports around 550 community warden posts across Scotland, while a number of local authorities directly fund additional posts. The areas where wardens operate were selected by councils and community planning partners based on factors such as deprivation and levels of crime and antisocial behaviour.
In November 2006, at the Community Wardens Conference in Dunblane, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson confirmed the allocation of more than £33 million to community safety partnerships in each of Scotland32 local authority areas to support the provision of services, including wardens schemes, to tackle antisocial behaviour in 2007-08.