Uniformed neighbourhood warden patrols in Pelton to double thanks to PCC funding.

Police and Crime Commissioner Joy Allen has agreed funding to double neighbourhood warden patrols in Pelton to further boost public safety and tackle anti-social behaviour.  

Since 2021, Pelton Parish Council has funded Neighbourhood Warden John Smith, employed by Durham County Council, and a vehicle to deliver 4.5 hours of patrols per week to engage with residents and proactively address the problems that cause the community concern.

The scheme has been a huge success, delivering prompt action to issues such as dog fouling, fly tipping, litter dropping and anti-social behaviour. In one incident, the warden noticed an off-road bike being driven around The Avenues in Pelton and alerted police officers at nearby Chester le Street who arrived and immediately seized the vehicle.

The council applied to the Commissioner for matched funding to increase the dedicated patrols to nine hours per week and has successfully secured funding.

The grant will enable the warden to continue focusing on the parish’s community safety priorities and feed intelligence to the local policing team while reassuring residents and reducing the fear of crime. It will also enable him to work with local schools and groups to target specific areas of the parish to reduce ASB.

Commissioner Allen said: “I am delighted to support this scheme and increase the visibility patrols taking place across Pelton. John has made a huge impact on locals since taking on the role and is successfully dealing with issues that blight residents’ lives including litter, dog fouling and anti-social behaviour. With additional funding to lengthen the time he can spend in the village we will be able to build on the fantastic progress already made and continue to keep these public spaces safe.  

“Neighbourhood wardens are a huge asset to our communities, providing a bridge between residents and the police and working with partners to tackle the source of nuisance and criminal behaviour, often engaging directly with perpetrators. They are also key to uncovering hidden criminality and support the police by building an intelligence picture.”

Pelton Parish Council recently carried out a consultation which was in the newsletter distributed to all households in the parish. Residents were asked whether they thought additional neighbourhood warden hours in the area was a priority and more than seven in ten who responded(73.6%) agreed or strongly agreed. Many also provided positive feedback on the warden’s work.

Cllr Danny Wood, Chair of Pelton Parish Council, said: “Pelton Parish Council are delighted that Joy, as the Police and Crime Commissioner, is supporting this initiative. Ensuring our area is as safe as possible is a big priority for our residents.

“We’re really pleased that we have a Police and Crime Commissioner that regularly comes out to meet with us and is really responsive to the issues we have raised with her.”

Neighbourhood Warden John Smith added: “We have had success in tackling off road bikes when we seized one that was being driven on a public road. We will continue to target these throughout the year.”

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