HL Deb 25 February 2002 vol 631 c172WA
Lord Jenkin of Roding

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What consultations have taken place between the Home Office and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on whether the deployment of community support officers, as provided for in Part 4 of the Police Reform Bill, may be augmented under the proposed scheme for business improvement districts, as described in paragraphs 7.15 to 7.35 of Cm 5237, Strong Local Leadership-Quality Public Services. [HL265I]

Lord Rooker

Business improvement district (BID) schemes in the United States of America and existing partnership schemes in England have been used to fund community warden schemes, and BID schemes, once agreed, could be used to fund this type of activity and the provision of community support officers or wardens accredited with limited powers as part of a community safety accreditation scheme. However, it will be for individual areas to decide that BID schemes, if any, will be established. There are regular discussions between the two departments on the development of warden schemes.