The Rotherham Wardens Unit

The Neighbourhood Wardens are part of Community Protection. It is a front-line service designed to act as linkers, sign posters and ambassadors on behalf of the Council and also enforce on environmental crime via issue of Fixed Penalty Notices.

How to contact the Rotherham Wardens

The unit started borough wide operations in 2006 and it consists of 14 Rotherham Wardens stationed in neighbourhoods. The majority of officers are co-located with partners from South Yorkshire Police.

The Objectives of the Unit

To improve the quality of life of communities by establishing a reliable and targeted response to local needs thereby:

• Building community confidence
• Reducing crime and the fear of crime
• Deterring anti-social Behaviour
• Deterring enviro-crime,
• Encouraging the use of parks and green open spaces
• Fostering social inclusion
• Improving the physical appearance and management of the neighbourhoods.

This is achieved by providing accredited high visible uniformed patrols working in a co-ordinated way with other partnership agencies.

• Acting as a link between the community and statutory and non-statutory agencies.
• Spotting and dealing with and Anti-Social Behaviour issues, including complaint investigation
• Enforcing local environmental quality e.g. by the future use of fixed penalty notices for dog fouling, fly tipping and littering, graffiti and fly posting
• Removal and disposal of drug litter.
• Graffiti reporting and removal.
• Providing crime prevention advice e.g. leaflets and other publicity on issues on door and window alarms and property marking
• Reassuring the community regarding perceptions of safety and crime incidents including chaperoning
• Problem solving with communities and partners to address crime and grime issues
• Promoting community spirit including Junior Warden Schemes, External Gallery Groups, meetings, festivals, fun days and environmental events.
• Promoting the use of green spaces and parks within the borough.

The larger part of the service has been allocated to Area Assembly / Safer Neighbourhood Team areas with the duties of the Neighbourhood Warden service tying in with the aims duties and responsibilities of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams that have been formed within Rotherham.

The Wardens work closely with our partners within Neighbourhood Services, the Police and the Council Housing management alongside other agencies that service Rotherham. Since early 2008, the Wardens have also had dedicated officers working the Town Cente.

Achievements 2010/11

• Winner of 5 out of 6 awards at the Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership Awards, including Warden Scheme of the Year.
• Over 6000 Service Requests completed