Forum Topic

council wardens V8 Land Rovers £40 000+ WHY?

Why has thousands of pounds of our council tax been spent on £40 000+ V8 engined Land Rover 4x4's for 'estate wardens'?Cameron's Nu Tories claim to be environmentally responsible so why has H&F purchased these grossly un environmental vehicles at such massive cost? Why have hybrids or electrical cars not been used or at the very least smart cars? Should the residents have to fund this absurdity while community services have been cut?The cost of Meals on wheels have gone up and the community law centre helping the poor has had its funding cut.Nu Tories? Don't make me laugh.

John Price ● 6411d8 Comments

Once again, what proof can you give us that these environmental UNFRIENDLY rough terrain utility vehicles have reduced crime? You can repeat yourself until you are blue in the face but a simple answer would be appreciated.It is the film that will help with convictions, not the size of the vehicles. What on earth are 'professional witnesses'?

John Price ● 6404d

As I said in my previous post, the Estate Wardens serve many functions.  One of which is to deter crime and anti-social behaviour on estates, which these vehicles play a big part in doing.  The Land Rover Discovery's show that we mean business - in a way that, frankly, a Smart car never could.Other operations, of a covert nature, do also take place on estates - including the use of professional witnesses.Cllr Greg SmithCabinet Member for Crime & Anti-social Behaviour

Greg Smith ● 6405d

This is just more nonsense. The technology in the cameras is the relevant aspect for intelligence gathering and they could be used on any vehicle, huge utility vehicles are not needed.What evidence is there that their use has deterred crime? If anything logic would dictate that in order to gain evidence covert vehicles should be used not ones that stick out a mile. Perhaps you should consider receiving advice from the police who use thousands of plain clothes police in cars indistinguishable from those used by the public.

John Price ● 6406d

Thank you for your comments.The Estates Wardens service have many functions, and these vehicles directly help in two of them.  Firstly, their high visibility presence deters crime and secondly, the technology in the cameras allows for evidential quality intelligence gathering.  One of the biggest difficulties in tackling anti-social behaviour on our estates is securing evictions/convictions/ASBOs etc against the perpetrators once the case gets to court.  Having good, evidential quality CCTV footage helps enormously in convincing the courts to take action. Since replacing the old Vauxhall vehicles, the new Discovery's have proved very successful in both of these tasks. Regarding cost, the vehicles do not actually cost very much more than the previous vehicles.  All Council vehicles are on lease-hire and the overall cost is not that much different.On the point raised about fuel - both cars are the diesel model, not the V8 petrol model.  Cllr Greg SmithCabinet Member for Crime and Anti-social Behaviour

Greg Smith ● 6407d

Obviously I am referring more to the lighter months when more children were out later, and this is obviously only my personal view.Deter........yes they did/do but as I said only for a short time as the kids became wise and disappeared only to reappear when vans had goneMake me feel safer..........possibly but they were not there long enoughGather intelligence.......who knows?However I am still unclear as to the justification of the costs of these vehicles plus the 3+ bodies sitting inside?  Surely all of the above could/should be obtained from either a longer/more powerful night-time caretaking service or if this is not possible the changing of the vehicles to a cheaper alternative and the creation of foot patrols around the estates.

Carol Burge ● 6408d

This is valuable feedback - as I understand it, they are there to deter, make residents feel safer and gather intelligence. 

Cllr Paul Bristow ● 6408d

Not wishing to dispute the need to help get rid of crime, I am just wondering how effective they actually are?  And have the cameras on top ever been used?  Because of their high visibility as soon as the kids on my estate see them appear they run and hide, and after they have driven through the kids reappear.  I have already made suggestions to the council that these vans should either be parked outside the estates and the wardens walk through or they be changed to unmarked cars.

Carol Burge ● 6408d

Because cutting crime is our number 1 priority and that is what these vehicles are designed to help with.

Cllr Paul Bristow ● 6408d