Wardens tackle crime as residents 'scared to go out'

Community safety warden Bradley Ellis is helping local police tackle crime

New safety wardens hope to tackle low-level crime and threatening behaviour as some residents are "scared to go out at night".

Wiltshire Police has been given £1m by the government to spend on areas that crime data shows are worst affected.

Some residents said recent stabbings and other incidents have left them scared to go out in the dark.

"Some people are genuinely fearful to come out," said vicar Revd Patrick Webb, whose parish is in the Park South area of Swindon.

The community safety wardens are being deployed to crime hotspots in Swindon, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Devizes, alongside more police officers.

Bradley Ellis, who was patrolling the Park South estate, said he was trying to let all local people and businesses know they were there to help.

Revd Webb said the constant anti-social behaviour "isn't acceptable"

"If there is anything going on, even if it's shoplifting, we can get involved in it.

"If we have to detain them... we can also get involved in that and call the police," he added.

Michael and Tessa Crayford, Park South residents of 40 years, stay inside at night now.

"Once it gets dark, we don't come out at all. We used to be able to, but not any more," said Mrs Crayford.

Michael and Tessa Crayford are scared to leave their home at night

She added: "We've had stabbings over here and all sorts. It's scary.

"We have a large population of elderly round here so I think I can see how they would feel very threatened," said local shop owner Danny Hirani.

He said the anti-social behaviour needs to be tackled "from both ends", including looking at the "root cause".

Revd Webb, rector of St John the Baptist and St Andrew, is helping how he can by creating new family and youth groups, but he said there was a lot to do.

"Almost every Sunday morning I have to go outside, remove the beer bottles, broken glass, occasionally syringes, occasionally other paraphernalia," he said.

Swindon shop owner Danny Hirani hopes the police will look at what is leading people to commit crimes in the area

He explained there were often people outside during Sunday services "shouting and screaming", even during events such as funerals.

"It's just not appropriate. Some people are genuinely fearful to come out, and we can't have that," he said.

"The community needs to step up and say 'we want a place that we can raise our children, that we can walk to the shops on our own without being concerned about what's going on around us'.

"We want to create a community here and we want to live in peace with each other," he added.

It is hoped the wardens will reduce violence and anti-social behaviour across Wiltshire

Mr Ellis said he had taken on the role to make his town better.

"That could be one or your family in harms way in the future," he added.

Philip Wilkinson, Wiltshire's police and crime commissioner, said: "We know where the hotspots are, so we can ensure that the money that we invest in those areas in tackling antisocial behaviour is where we are hitting the highest priorities."

He has effectively loaned Swindon Borough Council the resource for the wardens.

Councillor Jim Grant said the authority was "scraping together moneys".

"Ideally what we want to do is lobby the new government to fund more adequately things to address anti-social behaviour... because anti-social leads to more serious crime eventually."