Better Bankside ebrief, April 2005

Attempted break-in, illegal traders, tracing graffiti tags - a day in the life of a Better Bankside community warden

Better Bankside's four community wardens are based at Guy's Hospital and - in their distinctive black and red jackets - provide highly visible patrols throughout the area. Their function is to report crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental problems, to respond to the concerns of businesses and to provide a warm welcome for visitors to the area. Call 020 7357 6511 or email betterbanksidewardens@southwark.gov.uk to request their help.

The Wardens' workload is highly varied. In a typical response to an incident, two Wardens recently visited Better Bankside member The Power Station Cafe after its large front window had been smashed. The wardens spoke to the proprietors of the café and the Chinese Cultural Centre headquartered there. The incident was reported to the local beat police officer, who was asked to visit the café. The wardens also discussed the viability of installing CCTV coverage at the café and/or improving the 'visibility' of the café from the river walkway. They offered reassurance that they would check on the premises regularly.

The Wardens continue to work with the police to try to prevent illegal trading near the area's major attractions. The Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) have been impounding traders' trolleys and storing them in the Tate Modern carpark. They then telephone the wardens, who arrange for the trolleys to be removed by Southwark Council.

The Wardens are currently compiling a portfolio of digital pictures of graffiti tags, taken prior to their removal. (Photos above show 'tags' on the footing of Blackfriars Bridge and on the benches outside Tate Modern.) This should help establish whether whether the tags are written by 'one off' or by persistent offenders. If the latter, and the offender can be identified, an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO) could be issued.

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