Labour Block "Save the Wardens" Bid by local Lib Dems

3.17.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 20th Feb 2007

Labour are determined to see the popular wardens service scrapped

Labour councillors have blocked a Liberal Democrat bid to save Lambeth's street crime wardens.

The decision by the Labour administration to scrap the wardens was "called-in" by Streatham Lib Dem councillor Roger Giess - but the three Labour members on a five-member Scrutiny Committee, held specially to consider the issue, voted against referring the decision back to the Cabinet.

The Lib Dem move has kept some hope alive, however, for retaining the St Leonard's street crime wardens in Streatham. The scrutiny committee, which can only make recommendations, voted unanimously to tell Labour Cabinet member Mark Bennett to work with Streatham residents on "the feasibility" of retaining a warden scheme in Streatham.

Residents and ward councillors have pleaded for the wardens to be retained, fearing for the future if they are taken away in areas which had experienced serious anti-social behaviour before the scheme was introduced.

The cross-party committee were so worried about a vacuum after the wardens are scrapped that they called for urgent attention be given to the "transition" period before police community support officers are introduced and youth services developed.

"Recent events in Lambeth demonstrate the foolishness of axing the wardens," said Lib Dem Cllr Roger Giess. "They have been particularly successful in working with young people and developing community cohesion. It cannot be stressed enough that preventing the young getting involved in crime in the first place is key to preventing the tragedies we have witnessed in Streatham and elsewhere in the borough."

"Lambeth should be developing warden schemes across the borough, not throwing away all the good work that has been put in. The police have said clearly that they have neither the time nor resources to fulfil the valuable community building work of the wardens."