Cork’s four new community wardens will be a “visible presence” in the city but will not have the power to arrest people, the Cork Business Association has confirmed.
Jointly funded by the City Council and the Department of Justice, their role is to “to improve the physical environment through education, enforcement and local action”.
On Newstalk Breakfast, Cork Business Association Director Cliona Barnes said she hopes they can make Cork “the safest and cleanest city it can be” for locals in the Rebel County.
“On a day to day basis, we’re calling these wardens ambassadors for the city centre,” she explained.
“So, they’ll be signposting, they’ll be offering assistance to the public, supporting local businesses.
“They’ll be identifying issues on the street like graffiti, littering, damage to the public realm for follow up by the relevant teams and associations.”
South Main Street at the junction of Washington Street in Cork City. Picture by: Alamy.com. Ms Barnes added that the wardens will not have “enforcement powers” as they are not Gardaí.
“They’re really just a visible presence, extra eyes and ears on the street,” she said.
Once out on patrol, Cork City Council has developed an app which contains a map of the full city centre.
“Every approach they receive is going to be logged and registered,” Ms Barnes added.
“Every piece of public realm in Cork City has been numbered as well.
“So, if they pass a piece of paving, or a bollard or a piece of graffiti that needs to be handled, it will be logged straight away in that app and passed to the relevant team in the council.”
Gardaí on bikes patrol Maylor Street in Cork city. Picture by: AG News/Alamy.com. Ms Barnes added that the public should “just approach them” if they need anything.
“Come over and say hi, they’re very friendly, approachable people,” he said.
“Ask them anything that you need to ask.”
The project has received funding for a two year period and Ms Barnes said looking forward to seeing “how this goes”.
“These teams are operating successfully already in Dublin and Waterford,” she added.
“We’ve learnt a lot from the teams up there already.”
Main image: A community warden. Picture by: Alamy.com.
