Ready to patrol!

Pictured (from left to right) is: Community Safety Warden Damian McDonnell, Sergeant Geoff Martin, Community Safety Warden Desmond Lewis and Constable David Manderson.

Feedback from the Town Centre Warden scheme has been so positive that plans to increase the warden presence in the wider urban and rural areas are being implemented.

It’s hoped the reassurance provided by Wardens being seen in rural areas such as Ahoghill, Portglenone and Cullybackey and in the urban areas of Smithfield, Ballymena Bus Station and Wakehurst will help to reduce fear of crime among the community.

It’s also hoped the presence of Wardens will help prevent low-level anti-social behaviour which can negatively impact on quality of life for local residents.

The Chair of Ballymena Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Cllr. James Currie said: “We are proud of the success of our Warden Scheme. Last year alone the Safety Wardens made nearly 3000 contact calls with retailers, provided assistance to the general public on over 1700 occasions, dealt with 614 reports of suspected retail theft and 240 reports of anti-social behaviour.

“We have received great reports regarding the activity of the Wardens from business owners and shoppers alike and now we hope the outlying communities are going to share the benefits .”

Chief Inspector Catherine Magee said: “I’m delighted to see the Wardens out and about in the local area. I think the scheme will increase community confidence and build on the good community policing work which brought about a reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour last year”.

Safety Wardens in Ballymena are supplied by Mercury Security Ltd under contract and recently they helped to distribute the Retail Crime Reduction Pack sponsored by Mercury.

Wardens also assist with the distribution of information by the PCSP, PSNI and organisations such as the Ballymena Borough Chamber of Commerce and Industry.