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Community wardens conference
14/11/2007
Scotland's community wardens are playing an increasingly constructive role in supporting safe, strong neighbourhoods, a conference was told today.
The Minister for Community Safety Fergus Ewing acknowledged wardens' concerns over future funding of the posts but said they are "making a valuable contribution to supporting safer, stronger neighbourhoods in many parts of Scotland and we would certainly expect that local authorities would consider this when deciding on their own priorities".
Since April 2006 funding for local wardens has not been ring-fenced by central government but left to councils to decide - based on local priorities for investing antisocial behaviour funding provided to them.
Future funding arrangements for local authorities are being confirmed by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance in his Spending Review statement today.
Addressing the Chartered Institute of Housing Community Wardens conference in Dunblane this morning, Mr Ewing said:
"I cannot pre-empt what will be announced later today in Parliament.
"It is, of course, only right that local authorities are free to decide how to deal with antisocial behaviour and other issues in their own communities, and we will do all we can to support them in this.
"However, as the First Minister recently stated, community wardens are making a valuable contribution to supporting safer, stronger neighbourhoods in many parts of Scotland and we would certainly expect that local authorities would consider this when deciding on their own priorities.
"The First Minister also, quite rightly, challenged the assertion that wardens are effectively carrying out the duties of police officers.
"We know that wardens perform different roles in various parts of the country but the distinction with police officers is clear. This is an important point as wardens are not 'police on the cheap' as some allege.
"Wardens are adopting an increasingly constructive approach to ensuring community safety by working with local residents, and of course the police and other local partners, to tackle problems that are maybe not best resolved by calling your local police station.
"The role of wardens continues to evolve and develop as lessons are learned and best practice is shared.
"We are already seeing excellent practice and given it is a relatively new role, I would commend you for that.
"I recently announced the terms of reference for the antisocial behaviour strategy review and I stressed the importance and value of the role that community wardens play.
"The review will consider, among other matters, the future role of wardens and how they can contribute most effectively to making our communities safer. In doing that, it will draw on published research and consultation with key stakeholders."
Community Wardens provide a visible presence on the streets to reassure residents and work with other agencies. The principal function of wardens is to observe and report incidents to local authority colleagues or the police, as appropriate. However some wardens may take enforcement action on, for example, littering, noise or graffiti.
Scottish Government funding until April 2008 supports around 550 community wardens. A further 40 are funded locally from other sources.
Funding for antisocial behaviour was provided to local authorities as part of a four-year funding package up to April 2008 - although funding for wardens has not been ring-fenced since 2005-06.
Councils and their community planning partners can choose whether to fund wardens or other measures to tackle ASB. Future funding is subject of the current spending review.
An evaluation, published in March, found that wardens can and do play an important role in helping to create the safer, stronger communities which the Scottish Government is seeking to support.
Last month Mr Ewing announced a review of how Government, local agencies and communities work together to tackle antisocial behaviour.