Taking a walk on the warden side

Feb 20 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

COMMUNITY warden Ray McKay is determined to stop the scourge of anti-social behaviour on the streets of Perth.

The PA joined Ray – one of six wardens who have been patrolling the Hillyland, Tulloch and Letham areas of the Fair City for almost five years – on a shift to get a sense of the mentality required to brave the elements night after night in the name of community spirit.

The 55-year-old is an original member of the scheme, backed by Perth and Kinross Council’s anti-social behaviour team and funded by the Scottish Government.

And Ray, who travels from his Crieff home to the wardens’ base on Tulloch Terrace five days-a-week, said he feels he is making “a real difference”.

He said: “We’re here to integrate into the community and to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police.

“Sometimes we go out and don’t see anything but we are acting as a deterrent just by being seen.

“And locals know they have someone to approach with problems now,” he said.

Studiously checking the closes and narrow pathways throughout his patch each night, everything from drug paraphernalia to an abandoned washing machine is found during our time on the streets.

Taking a break from writing in his notepad, Ray continued: “We report damage to street lights and windows, as well as things like fly-tipping and general anti-social behaviour.

“We’ve had people’s doors, locks – and even their fences – fixed by the council because we’ve seen them falling into disrepair.

“But we also escort children to youth clubs, monitor empty houses, and look out for vulnerable residents.

“I think we make a real difference,” he said.

A community warden was assaulted by a member of the public on Ray’s patrol in December last year.

Despite the obvious risks involved in his new-found vocation – especially in areas of high activity, known as “hot spots” – Ray is adamant the rewards outweigh anything else.

“A lot of kids give you cheek simply because you’ve got a uniform on and they want to know how far they can push you.

“But we go out in pairs and we always face the people we’re talking to, we never turn away from anyone.

“It’s always in the back of your mind that something could happen.

“But everyone knows that if we report anything the police will back us up,” he said.

Ray went on to the cite the junior community warden scheme as an example of the potential good the initiative can do.

Introduced in August 2007, the six week programme allows local youngsters to take part in educational projects designed to break down the barriers between them and their senior mentors.

Praising the award-winning programme, Ray said: “Even though we’ve been here for nearly five years there are some people who don’t know who we are.

“Things like the junior warden scheme are a way for us to get our faces out there without forcing it on people.

“They don’t come out on patrol with us, but we do give them exercises to do and get them thinking about good citizenship,” he said.

The latest crime figures for Perth and Kinross, released in September 2008, show that annoyance complaints in Letham and Hillyland have reduced by 46 per cent since 2005.

Eddie Boyle, the local authority’s anti-social investigations team leader, said this reduction is the reason the scheme has been extended into Muirton, North Muirton and Rattray since last October.

“They help bring a renewed sense of community spirit to the areas as well as assisting ourselves and the police.

“We are always looking to expand the scheme and promote other things to continue their positive impact,” he said.