LETTER: Wardens do fantastic work

As the Elected Member responsible for Community Safety at Horsham District Council, employers of the Neighbourhood Wardens, I feel compelled to challenge some of the misconceptions of our staff who make a valuable contribution to the lives of so many local people.

It is true to say that there are a group of local individuals in the area, most of whom are adults and who are unfortunately causing problems for other local people. It is important, however, to make clear that both the Wardens, Police and Anti-social Behaviour Team are very aware of these people and where offences are being committed they are being dealt with appropriately.

I would like to make clear what the Wardens are employed to do, in response to the issues raised by Mr Cree quoted in the article who asks whether the powers conferred to staff are ‘fit for purpose’.

The critical point to remember is that Wardens are not, nor have they ever been, a replacement for the Police. The Wardens have a very wide ranging remit ranging from providing a highly visible reassuring presence through to working with the most vulnerable in the community and dealing with low level anti-social behaviour and environmental crimes.

The Wardens should not be used to provide an emergency response to incidents and nor are they responsible for investigating crime, intervening in fights or breaking up drunken groups.

These are functions of Sussex Police and these types of incidents must be directed to them. If, however, the wardens are present when such incidents are taking place then the expectation is that they will call the police for assistance and act as professional witnesses to assist them in dealing with the incidents as occurred on Thursday 6th October 2016.

The reported ‘gang’ concerned were causing problems and after observing for a period of time, the Wardens dialled 999 and secured Police attendance which resulted in the group being dispersed and positive action taken.

Indeed again last weekend on Friday 21 October, following an incident in Upper Beeding where an alleged assault took place, the Police attended within a few minutes and worked with the Wardens who reviewed the CCTV footage to positively identify six individuals involved.

It is no secret that the Neighbourhood Policing Team numbers are significantly lower than they have ever been but these officers are doing their best with a wide area to cover, with many competing priorities.

As a result it is imperative that the public contact the police when they witness incidents so they can firstly deploy their limited resources but can also develop a picture of incidents which can lead to longer term problem solving - which both the wardens and the wider Community Safety team at Horsham District Council will be part of.

As a reminder contacting Sussex Police can be done very easily either via the telephone using number 101 for a non-emergency or 999 for all emergencies. Alternatively, incidents can be reported online via the website: www.sussex.police.uk.

Horsham District Council liaises regularly with the three funding Parish Councils (Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding), all of whom receive regular updates in the form of activity reports.

All of the funding parishes are fully supportive of the scheme as evidenced by previous residents’ surveys which are overwhelmingly favourable and the reason why the local scheme is in its fourteenth year.

Our Wardens do some fantastic work, supporting many local people but cannot and must not be viewed as a replacement for the Police.

Kate Rowbottom

(Con, Billingshurst and Shipley) Portfolio Holder for a Safer, Healthier District, Horsham District Council, Chart Way, Horsham

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