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Warden abuse will be caught on body cameras in Swansea

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Thursday, September 20, 2012
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South Wales Evening Post

TRAFFIC wardens in Swansea are now wearing body cameras to protect themselves against attacks when pounding the pavement.

Swansea Council hopes the cameras — which come with warning notices — will help deter verbal or physical assaults against wardens, but record any that may take place.

A spokesman for Swansea Council said: “The council's civil parking enforcement service has been using ‘body warn video cameras’ to monitor several issues including confrontations by members of the public and have been very beneficial in diffusing potential confrontational issues.

“Officers are obliged to inform members of the public that they are being filmed. One of the main purposes of the cameras is to help deter officers being abused or assaulted.

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“Assault is a criminal offence and should the police wish to use footage in evidence for a prosecution, the film would be made available to them.

“We would always urge people to treat our parking enforcement officers with respect.”

The spokesman confirmed that total of 10 cameras have been purchased at a cost of £6,195. In one year alone (2010-11) there were 73 incidents against traffic wardens.

Ten of these incidents were reported to the police, including one which involved an officer being spat upon, four which were due to threatening and aggressive behaviour and two which were actual assaults. One of the assaults also involved the theft of the officer’s camera and resulted in a conviction.

One warden was even knocked over by a car.

The cameras will also help with investigations of complaints made against any civil enforcement officers employed by the local authority.

Since 2008, when civil parking enforcement was introduced in Swansea, there have been 15 formal complaints against wardens. One complaint was withdrawn, and seven were addressed at the first stage of the complaints process following investigation.

Seven complaints against civil parking enforcement officers were progressed to disciplinary investigation in accordance with the council’s disciplinary procedures.

One was upheld with appropriate sanction in accordance with disciplinary procedures.

In four cases no evidence of wrongdoing was found and two cases are currently being investigated.

helen.keates@swwmedia.co.uk

01792 514417

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  • Profile image for maxmin

    by maxmin

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 3:14PM

    “Capn Banzai, Nay matey I was an R05 the Big Bird. Aden Campaign in 67 - I always remember my first patrol. As I was the only one cleared for the Sterling I had one of those over my shoulder and just before I went down the ladder the Chief handed me a wooden crate with instructions to take care. As I sat in the cutter my curiosity got the better of me and I opened the lid. Twelve mills bombs. I mean just over 17 and they give me a sub-machine gun and a crate of grenades!
    My grandfather used to frequent the West Cross Hotel every day for his pint of Woodpecker back in the early 60's.
    Glad to hear that it has been kept open, we lived in the house which was knocked down to provide the green patch going towards Oystermouth just next door. The big tree on the patch used to be at the end of our garden.”

  • Profile image for CapnBanzai

    by CapnBanzai

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 3:00PM

    “Aye. Jim o' the West Cross Hotel. Now be the West Cross Inn.
    Thinks me back, I hears you be on the R09 for a quick eyeing of a Phantom F-4K with a Blackburn Buccaneer.
    It be befores that Rud Stewart and the winking dummy. #I am sailing....... Urgh! Pass ye the slop bucket.
    'Desire Does Not Rest' be thee pledge.”

  • Profile image for CapnBanzai

    by CapnBanzai

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 2:50PM

    “Aye. Jim o' the WX Hotel. Now be the WX Inn.
    Thinks me back, I hears you be on the R09 for a quick eyeing of Phantom F-4K with a Blackburn Buccaneer.
    'Desire Does Not Rest' be thee pledge.”

  • Profile image for maxmin

    by maxmin

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 10:27AM

    “oops double posting - not sure what happened there. Capn banzai I'll have you know they hadn't even built the Ark when I joined up! Which pub is this Capt. Jim Roger's Inn at West Cross I used to live in West Cross near the West Cross Hotel.”

  • Profile image for ButzChoquin

    by ButzChoquin

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 9:28AM

    “neathoy your a real turnip!”

  • Profile image for maxmin

    by maxmin

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 9:26AM

    “Neathboy, no of course you weren't talking about me so when you wrote

    " so that might explain u (sic) being in the army." ( by the way 'you' has three letters not just the last one)

    You weren't talking about me but probably some other chap named U? ( I believe U is a Burmese honorific roughly equivalent to Mr so I suppose any Burmese man would do.)

    I really do like your comment " We all know u don't have to be the brightest to be in the army, but u have to have the ability to obey orders blindly." I'll have to arrange for you to meet some of my old pals - they don't live too far away, Hereford in fact. I'm sure they would love to discuss your labelling of them as not too bright and only having the ability to follow orders blindly.

    It's very interesting to hear what you think of the many brave men and women who are facing real danger on a daily basis while you are snug and warm at home.

    It's interesting you want to drag my parents into all this. My parents taught all their children manners, civility, the ability to think for ourselves and above all the famous saying by Edmund Burke " All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". We have an annual family reunion and at the last one I counted a load of degrees ranging from BA's & Bsc's all the way up to Doctorates, and three millionaires so I guess you could say that they didn't do a bad job.

    It would appear your parents taught you to obey all orders without thinking, very popular in Germany, Japan and Russia before the last war I believe. Did you have a uniform? Perhaps something with shiny leather shorts, brown shirts and an arm band with a funny little cross on it?

    Anyway please don't bother to reply I'm sure you are having enough problems trying to remove your tail which apparently has got wedged firmly between your legs!”

  • Profile image for maxmin

    by maxmin

    Wednesday, September 26 2012, 9:25AM

    “Neathboy, no of course you weren't talking about me so when you wrote

    " so that might explain u (sic) being in the army." ( by the way 'you' has three letters not just the last one)

    You weren't talking about me but probably some other chap named U? ( I believe U is a Burmese honorific roughly equivalent to Mr so I suppose any Burmese man would do.)

    I really do like your comment " We all know u don't have to be the brightest to be in the army, but u have to have the ability to obey orders blindly." I'll have to arrange for you to meet some of my old pals - they don't live too far away, Hereford in fact. I'm sure they would love to discuss your labelling of them as not too bright and only having the ability to follow orders blindly.

    It's very interesting to hear what you think of the many brave men and women who are facing real danger on a daily basis while you are snug and warm at home.

    It's interesting you want to drag my parents into all this. My parents taught all their children manners, civility, the ability to think for ourselves and above all the famous saying by Edmund Burke " All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". We have an annual family reunion and at the last one I counted a load of degrees ranging from BA's & Bsc's all the way up to Doctorates, and three millionaires so I guess you could say that they didn't do a bad job.

    It would appear your parents taught you to obey all orders without thinking, very popular in Germany, Japan and Russia before the last war I believe. Did you have a uniform? Perhaps something with shiny leather shorts, brown shirts and an arm band with a funny little cross on it?

    Anyway please don't bother to reply I'm sure you are having enough problems trying to remove your tail which apparently has got wedged firmly between your legs!”

  • Profile image for dick_e

    by dick_e

    Tuesday, September 25 2012, 9:37PM

    “Arrrr... well shiver me timbers. Tis an old tar with shenanigans a plenty due to any scallwags who try n plunder his craft. Take heed ye lubbers not to rock his boat else ye be for a keelhauling to be sure.”

  • Profile image for CapnBanzai

    by CapnBanzai

    Tuesday, September 25 2012, 8:49PM

    “maxmin be swab on the Ark.
    Press gang be takes him from Capt. Jim Roger's Inn at West Cross.
    Took 3 of the cosh I be hears.”

  • Profile image for Neathboy234

    by Neathboy234

    Tuesday, September 25 2012, 8:07PM

    “maxmin i would have never had u down as the navy type. Anyway I'll take it with a pinch of salt. And of course i wasn't talking about U stop being so paranoid. Right i said it before and this time i mean it as far as i'm concerned this subject is closed, it's not much fun anymore your too easy to wind up ha ha ha”

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