Story by Rob Smith
Horror has been expressed following the recent violent attack on a female Community Warden, one of eight funded by New Deal, while on patrol on Verdon Street in April. A man has been arrested following the incident.
“Abuse on wardens will not be tolerated,” said New Deal.
They have issued a stern warning to residents saying the attack was cowardly and unprovoked:
“Community Wardens are part of New Deal and are local residents based in the area.The scheme was actually requested by local people. It is absolutely unacceptable to verbally or physically assault community wardens and the strongest actions will be taken against anyone who does. If there are continued abuses of this scheme and those working for it, then community wardens will have to be withdrawn from the areas in question.”
Employees unprotected
This most recent attack adds to major concerns that have already caused discontent amidst Community Wardens, both past and present. The allegations are of management complacency concerning the role the Wardens play and their protection and welfare as visible uniformed employees.
Patrolling alone
“A month after I began as a warden I was directed to walk the streets by myself. This became a big issue for us and, I believe, those who left before I started,” confirmed ex-Warden Tanya Bailey. “There were three attacks on patrolling wardens alone while I was employed by them. Luckily it didn’t happen to me but it was one of the issues that created a good incentive for many of us to leave.”
I spoke to a present worker, employed for just over three months, who informed me they had been told to patrol alone and explained that even one of the youngest male members of the team had regularly been sent out to patrol the streets by himself. “That is until this most recent incident Rob, since then I believe certain procedures, that were well overdue, have now been changed.”
At a recent conference involving Community Wardens schemes and City Ambassadors from all around the country it became apparent that patrolling alone was not the norm. “When we told some that New Deal Wardens we’re instructed to go out by themselves, they were shocked.”
Wardens are not the police
The Verdon Street attacker accused the Warden of being directly linked with the police. Sheffield Homes, who manage the Community Wardens Project, are anxious to make it clear that the Wardens are not policing Burngreave. They told the Messenger:
“The wardens are not the police and their job is to identify anything which could be reducing the quality of life in the Burngreave area – and act on it by referring incidents on to other relevant teams and organisations for instance repairs section, Street force, street cleaners etc. Examples of this would be reporting fly-tipping, broken streetlights, graffiti, organising litter removal, reporting abandoned cars, which are causing an eye sore for residents and finding many other ways of improving the area.We want to encourage residents to come up and chat to the wardens as they patrol the area.They are a very friendly bunch and are there to act as friendly neighbours to residents.”
The Wardens themselves have expressed concern about the role they are actually being asked to play. Speaking to a current employee I was told:
“Most other Wardens around the country issue fines but New Deal refused to do this. But we are instructed to report failure of motor vehicle duty tax, nuisance, anti-social behaviour and fly tipping – if we encounter any forms of direct anti-social behaviour we’re told to report this to the office using mobile phones issued for the job.”