Press Release

Housing Manager Undertakes Neighbourhood Warden Shadowing Excercise

David Rundle, Housing Manager for The Vale Housing Association, got on his bike when he took part in a shadowing exercise with David Coates, one of the Vale of White Horse District Council’s Neighbourhood Wardens.

David Rundle offered to accompany David Coates’ on a patrol round the area as he saw this as an ideal opportunity to find out how the wardens operate. This will, in turn, lead to a greater understanding of what challenges the Wardens face and therefore a better working relationship between the Neighbourhood Wardens and the Vale Housing Association who have 1400 properties in South Abingdon.

 
David Rundle and David Coates prepare to begin their patrol in Saxton Road (this picture is available electronically at 300 dpi)

David Coates was the first Neighbourhood Warden in Oxfordshire when he started patrolling the South Abingdon area in 2001 and he now works with a second Warden, Richard Baker. The police describe the wardens as their “eyes and ears in the local community” and although he is an ex-police officer, David does not carry a baton or CS spray but he acts as information provider for local residents wanting to know about council-related matters whilst keeping in radio contact with the police. The Neighbourhood Wardens cycle round the area in a distinctive uniform as this allows them to be both easily identifiable and easily accessible. Since the scheme has been introduced in South Abingdon, house burglaries in the area have dropped 56%, vehicle thefts in the area have been reduced by 43% and the number of reported incidents of violence in the area has increased by 20%.

After his experience, David Rundle said, The Neighbourhood Wardens provide a valuable community service and they have obviously made an impact in the area. I would recommend that this shadowing is repeated by other housing officers as an estate inspection by bike is very rewarding. It allows you to engage with residents far more easily.

The street wardens can be contacted by calling the office on 01235 554783; by mobile phone on 07909 535558 (David Coates) or 07884 255622 (Richard Baker); or by stopping David or Richard in the street.  

Notes to Editors

1. More information about the work of Neighbourhood Wardens can be found on the Vale of White Horse DC’s website using the address below.
    
   http://www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/CommunityDevelopment/CrimeAndDisorder/DetailPage-1349.asp

For further information contact:

Communication and Research Assistant
01235 536001

David Rundle
Housing Manager
01235 536001

David Coates
Neighbourhood Warden
07909 535558