A new team of street wardens started work last month in the Birmingham city centre district. Provided by APCOA Services Group, they went on the beat for the first time on April 2, in the Southside Business Improvement District (BID). The group’s tasked to provide a safe and pleasant environment day and night, reassuring everyone from theatre goers to night-clubbers, and from residents to office workers. The contract was awarded by the BID after a tendering process. APCOA reports that in Birmingham it already provides security patrolling, car park management and concierge-security services.
In their blue and purple uniforms, Southside’s street wardens are the BID’s ‘eyes and ears’ on the street. The wardens are there to give directions to tourists, identifying any environmental concerns like graffiti and dropped litter, and monitoring the quality of BID contracts, such as the street washing service and floral enhancement scheme. To record incidents and provide evidence the wardens have BlackBerry devices and can act as witnesses if required. Julia Chance, Southside BID Manager said: “One of the BID’s primary objectives is to improve Southside’s streets. This includes better lighting, signage and visitor information, as well as cleanliness and, of course, safety. Research conducted on behalf of the BID in recent months indicates that people already feel safe when in Southside. The introduction of wardens is part of our strategy to maintain those high approval ratings and improve them wherever we can.”
They patrol the BID area, providing guidance and advice to the public, while supporting the work of West Midlands Police and other security initiatives already in place in the district.
The street wardens will work as part of the wider community, interacting with Southside’s businesses, staff and residents, as well as providing a warm welcome to visitors. They will also assist in the support of groups at risk from crime and anti-social behaviour, improving these groups’ confidence and quality of life.
Mike Swinbank, APCOA’s Area Manager said: “We are supporting the BID’s plans to improve Southside’s streets, and the street warden service has been introduced to ensure issues are handled on a proactive and ongoing basis before they can develop into problems. The street wardens will provide a reassuring presence on the streets of Southside, helping to prevent crime and helping to maintain a pleasant environment for everyone who lives, works and socialises here. I am looking forward to working closely with fellow Southside businesses and the Southside BID manager to further enhance the reputation of this exciting and developing area of Birmingham.”
