Express and Star - 16th December 2008

Park Wardens to Wear Stab Vests

Park wardens in a Black Country borough are to get stab vests amid fears they could be attacked.

The 10 park wardens in Sandwell, who are currently known as urban rangers, deal with yobbish behaviour, but will soon be allowed to hand out fines for smoking and drinking.

It is feared they could face increased confrontation so Sandwell Council is to issue them with the protective vests.

Sandwell’s events manager and acting park warden manager Tony Potter said: “They will be given delegated powers that will given them additional powers to deal with things like under-age drinking and smoking and they have been granted accredited permission by the police to issue fixed penalty notices.

“They are going to potentially be in situations where they will confront people and hand out fixed penalty notices so we want to bring them into line the with street wardens who may face the same issues.”

He added: “The aim of the new service is to make our parks safer and more user-friendly. As a result they are undergoing training for the new roles in which they will wear new uniforms which will include wearing stab vests.”It is hoped the new service will be up and running in the New Year.