Introduction

The new Sandwell Wardens scheme was launched on the 1 July 2006 introducing a new look patrolling enforcement scheme across the Borough of Sandwell.

Vision

To deliver safer, cleaner, stronger communities for all citizens in Sandwell

Mission

“To reduce crime and the fear of crime, to deter anti-social behaviour, to foster social cohesion and inclusion through community engagement, and to improve the local environment by ensuring that problems are reported to the appropriate agency. This will be achieved through the deployment of high visibility patrols, and by administration of delegated powers resulting from police accreditation and designation of Local Authority powers.”

Values

Sandwell’s wardens will take an uncompromising, but fair and consistent, stand against anti-social behaviour. The wardens will act in a professional manner, valuing diversity and the rights of others, and treating all residents and visitors to Sandwell with respect and courtesy.

The warden’s service will be providing a 7 days a week service with an extension of the hours that the wardens work covering the period between 10am and 10pm. This is designed to improve the response provided by the warden service and to respond to the pattern of anti-social behaviour in the borough.

Based at Farley House, Vicarage Road, Langley, Sandwell Wardens are organised into three teams with each team having a geographic responsibility for two towns. You can download a copy of the Sandwell Wardens Team Structure.

What do Wardens do?

Wardens play a key role in helping to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. They do this by working in partnership with the police and other partner agencies to concentrate on the worst affected areas of the Borough and identified as hot spots. Wardens are tasked through the Neighbourhood Tasking process, which provides three levels of tasking.

The first level is called Borough Tasking and is attended by the Wardens Manager on a monthly frequency. Priority tasks are discussed and agreed for the coming month.

The second level is the Town Tasking, which occurs every two weeks and is attended by the Senior Warden with responsibility for that area.

The third level is Neighbourhood Cluster tasking which meets on an ongoing basis but formally once a month. The Warden for that area attends this meeting.

Wardens also act as the eyes and ears of the community providing advice and guidance on a whole range of Council services often contacting other departments to help solve a problem. They also report damage to property, street furniture, defective roads and lighting and fly tipping and abandoned vehicles.

How do they do all this?

They discharge their responsibilities by spending most of their time on foot patrol in the community talking to people about any problems and issues which may be causing concern.

What powers do they have to do all this?

Wardens have been delegated a range of powers by Sandwell MBC which allows them to issue Fixed Penalty Tickets for a variety of offences which include litter, dog fouling, abandoning a vehicle, graffiti, fly posting, repairing a vehicle on a road, offering a vehicle for sale on the road and other offences connected to litter enforcement. They also have the power to obtain the name and address of any person suspected of having committed one of these offences and to whom they intend to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice. Failure to provide the name or address or giving false information is in itself an offence for which a person can be arrested by the police and prosecuted.

The West Midlands Police have also accredited the Sandwell Wardens with other powers which include the power to issue Penalty Notices for Disorder for certain offences, the power to confiscate alcohol from persons under 18 years, the power to confiscate tobacco from persons under 16 years and the power to take a photograph of a person issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice or Penalty Notice for Disorder, on the street.

You can view the full range of delegated and accredited powers available to Sandwell Wardens here.

Who can be issued with a ticket?

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council has adopted the Cabinet Office Concordat on Enforcement and the Sandwell Wardens scheme has implemented an Enforcement policy, which details all the principles, values and criteria, which must be considered in determining the appropriate course of action. (link to enforcement policy)

Fixed Penalty Notices can be issued to persons aged 10 years and older and they are personally responsible for payment of the penalty.

Penalty Notices for Disorder can be issued to persons aged 16 years and older and for 16 and 17 year olds, the parents are responsible if the penalty is not discharged.

What do I do if I am issued with a ticket?

Brief details are contained on the ticket itself but you should also be given a payment slip, which provides full details on the reverse on methods of payment. This will be given to you in a pre-addressed envelope to help you discharge the penalty.

What if I have a complaint?

The Council has a complaints procedure. See details - Contacting the Council.

How can I contact the Wardens?

The Warden service can be contacted direct on 0121 569 2745 or through the Contact Centre on 0121 569 2200

Sandwell Council is committed to equality and diversity, and is striving constantly to improve the services it provides to its diverse communities and citizens.