Community wardens

The community wardens started work in January 2005 and they work in:

• Chichester East and Whyke
• Chichester West
• Tangmere and Oving
• Selsey
• The Witterings

Main areas of activity

• Community development and encouraging and increasing community involvement
• Dealing with environmental issues (e.g. graffiti, litter, dumping, abandoned cars, dog fouling etc.) within the area by working with appropriate agencies
• Working with the police, police community support officers (PCSOs) and local communities to reduce crime, anti-social behaviour and fear of crime in the area including providing intelligence and evidence to the police and acting as a professional witnesses

They achieve this by:

• Being based in the area
• Working flexible shifts including evenings (up to 10pm) and weekends. They spend part of they week working together but also do some lone working. Although they have an agreed forward shift pattern, they are prepared to be flexible to meet local requirements
• Regular high visibility, reassuring patrolling on foot or bike
• Responding to calls from the public or other agencies
• Working closely with police, PCSOs, local councillors, community groups, RSLs and residents
• Working closely with agencies that can deal with issues in the community
• Regular visits to elderly, vulnerable etc
• Working with the community and promoting community development initiatives

They do not:

• Have any enforcement powers - no special criminal powers or council enforcement
• Get involved in violent incidents
• Take sides in disputes
• Stop all crime and anti-social behaviour
• Normally undertake joint patrols with PCSOs