Success for Street Marshals project
Harlow Council is hoping to continue a three month pilot project
that has been reducing anti-social behaviour in Harlow town
centre.
The Street Marshals project started in March 2009 with
funding from the Government. The funding paid for the employment of
two trained and licensed staff to patrol the town centre at weekend
evenings when there is the highest risk of anti-social behaviour.
The role of the Marshals is
to provide additional assistance to Police patrols and the existing
Taxi Marshal scheme. Their presence helps to ensure that small
scale incidents do not escalate in higher levels of criminal damage
or violent behaviour.
The scheme has proved successful and over 16
nights of patrols the marshals dealt with numerous incidents
including:
- Witnesssing and reporting a knife being
dumped in an alleyway
- Assisting the Police with a man threatening
to commit suicide
- Dealing with intoxicated members of the
public
- Providing first aid to 14 people
- Helping to resolve domestic disputes
- Providing a presence to deter public
disorder
- Enforcing alcohol bans in “no alcohol”
areas
- Removing glass and bottles from the street
(over 239 bottles were recovered)
Chairman of the Environment and Community
Committee Cllr Tony Hall said:
“The scheme has proved very successful and
members of the public have reacted positively. As well as an
enforcement role, the marshals have provided a valuable community
service by giving first aid, helping people to find taxis and
transport and looking after people that have been the worse for
wear after an enjoyable night out.
“The funding finishes at the end of June but
we will be working hard to try and find other sources that will
enable this important service to continue. It is helping to reduce
anti-social behaviour in Harlow at times when there is the highest
risk.”
Jon Moore, the East of England Ambulance
Service's general manager for West Essex, said:
"We've been delighted to work with the Council
on this project. The Street Marshals are trained as part
of our First Responder scheme, and it's great to know that these
locally based individuals are able to carry out first aid for
people who are sick or injured while our ambulance is on its way.
In some cases they may even help prevent the need for an
ambulance response, freeing up our resources to attend more serious
incidents."