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‘MILITIAS’ TO HIT STREETS
Plans for army of traffic wardens with CCTV helmets slammed
A PRIVATISED “militia” of camera-wearing enforcement officers who can issue tickets for anything from parking to letting your dog off its lead could soon patrol the streets, according to critics of plans being considered at the Town Hall.
Finance and community safety bosses are in talks to equip the council’s army of traffic wardens – now called civil enforcement officers (CEOs) – with “personal miniaturised CCTV recording devices”.
The same plans consider combining traffic wardens with other council staff to create a “single uniformed presence” on the streets, capable of issuing fines for a range of offences including breaking environmental rules, graffiti, and dog-fouling.
The plans were outlined by Liberal Democrat councillors James King and Ralph Scott as the council’s ruling cabinet discussed a new eight-year contract for traffic wardens last Wednesday.
But the prospect has created unease, voiced by Conservative cabinet member Councillor Andrew Mennear.
Cllr Mennear said: “Fundamentally, people are cautious about welcoming unified enforcement militias on the streets with cameras on their heads. It is Orwellian. We have to be very careful – you’re dependent on the agencies we employ. It confuses roles if you have different uniformed bodies carrying out what are essentially enforcement type roles.”
Camden Council is looking south to Westminster, where the Town Hall has recruited its traffic wardens to report non-parking issues like graffiti and abandoned cars.
Community safety chief Cllr James King said the plans were just one of a set of options being considered as the massive traffic warden contract comes up for renewal in 2010.
Cllr King said: “There is nothing specific on the table here. But I’d like to have scope to explore whether or not these officers might take on identifying and addressing anti-social behaviour on our streets.
“My objective is to efficiently and effectively address anti-social behaviour and low-level crime, because these are the things that most affect residents.”
Finance chief Cllr Scott told the cabinet: “There is scope, once you’ve got bodies on the street, to think about how you link them up with others.”
Council reports show that head-cameras have already been trialled with some traffic wardens, and claim that their use brings improvements in training, efficiency, and officer safety.
And the enforcement power of council staff is already being extended. In September, the council sought powers for its 18-strong team of street wardens to hand out fines.
The street wardens will have nothing to do with parking, but instead patrol Camden Town, Bloomsbury and Gospel Oak to tackle anti-social behaviour. They will become “accredited”, and able to issue a ticket for fines up to £80 for dog fouling, graffiti or noise nuisance to anyone over 10 years old. |
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