COMMUNITY wardens in Sudbury are to have greater powers to deal with low-level crime and anti-social behaviour.

Sudbury Town Council has successfully applied to become part of the county-wide Community Safety Accreditation Scheme.

Members become part of the county’s extended policing family and gain the authority to issue fixed penalty fines, and record names and addresses of offenders.

The exact powers to be handed to Sudbury members are still to be finalised. The scheme is part of Suffolk Constabulary’s commitment to working with other organisations to increase its strength within local communities.

The initiative works hand-in-hand with Safer Neighbourhood policing to provide solutions tailored to the needs of an individual community.

Accredited people, such as the community wardens in Sudbury, wear their own organisation’s uniform with a nationally-identified logo to signify their accreditation.

They also carry an identification card clearly setting out the specific powers they are authorised to exercise.

The kinds of issues the wardens will be given power to deal with include low-level anti-social behaviour, littering and dog fouling – a problem which has caused a great deal of concern in parts of Sudbury during the past few months.

Deputy town clerk Jacqui Howells said: “Our wardens will be accredited with individual powers enabling them to work closely with the Safer Neighbourhood policing team to ensure Sudbury remains a safe, nice and vibrant place to live, work and visit.”

The wardens will receive their certificates at the annual town meeting next Tuesday.