COMMUNITY WARDEN
Haywards Heath Town Council has always had a close working relationship with Neighbourhood Policing Team working on issues within the Town and continues to do so. However, the Town Council felt there was gap in tackling business crime, low level anti-social behaviour and the absence of a friendly face known to the community.
To meet this need, the Town Council has developed, an innovative way of dealing with community safety by introducing a Community Warden. The Warden’s remit is to install community confidence, increase resilience and help reduce and report crime. The Warden is based in the Town Centre, but has the ability to focus on identified issues around the Town by attending incidents by foot patrol, vehicle or on their electronic bike.
The Warden has a uniform, stab proof jacket and carries handcuffs as SWL Security, who provides our Warden, has obtained additional powers through the Sussex Police Community Safety Accreditation Scheme meaning they can effectively manage street issues and control anti-social behaviour. SWL provides the Warden to the Town Council through a Service Level Agreement. The Warden is fully police vetted, reports to the police and receives intelligence from the police, local shops and the Orchards Shopping Centre Security team. The Wardens work pattern is controlled by the Town Council by routine patrol, on intelligence gathered and Town events.
To support the Warden there is an electronic reporting platform called Disc where intelligence on business crime is reported. The Warden will be happy to support and help retailers fill in the crime report if required. Generally, if there is a crime incident Warden can create a report and send it to the police also.
This is a true example of the public and private sectors working together collaboratively in order to enhance prosperity and reduce crime in the local area. The Town Council values the confidence and peace of mind received that has now become apparent in the area thanks to the Warden and Sussex Police and looks forward to the project continuing.