Number of community wardens in Portsmouth could double under new proposals

A report will be put before the council's cabinet members next Tuesday, which recommends increasing the number of community wardens in Portsmouth from eight to 16.

Councillor Dave Ashmore, cabinet member for environment and community safety, said: '˜This is great news for Portsmouth.

'˜To have sixteen community wardens working across the city would mean that we could increase the great work already being done to keep the city safe, clean and tidy.

'˜Community wardens also offer residents advice and support where needed and help to improve the quality of life for everybody living and working in the city.'

Community wardens can help with reports of anti-social behaviour, fly tipping, graffiti, neighbour nuisance, dog nuisance and dog control orders, dog fouling and littering

They are also the first point of contact for travellers trying to access council land.

The new community wardens are funded until March 2020 and would cover the work currently covered by the high street warden team as well as working across the council's housing areas during the evenings.

In May Rosa Sartori, the mother of a four-year-old girl, hit out because her daughter had to be taken to hospital for a blood test after picking up a needle on a Portsmouth road. 

Rosa commented on the fact there '˜are nowhere near enough community wardens' in the city.

Resident Shane Vine also told The News in May the council's current team of wardens and officers was not enough to cope with dog fouling and litter across the whole of Portsmouth.