DELEGATES from around the country and Europe gathered in Bury yesterday, December 2, to take part in a pioneering conference.

Representatives from police, government and community agencies were present at Bury Town Hall for Britain's very first National Neighbourhood and Community Warden Conference.

Experiences and lessons learnt by Holland's Stadswacht initiative as well as Bury's own Community Safety Wardens ran alongside similar schemes operated by Sedgefield Community Force in County Durham and Newport Rangers from South Wales.

One of the speakers was Bury South MP, Ivan Lewis, himself a firm supporter of the community wardens concept.

The conference, entitled "Neighbourhood and Community Wardens-Promoting Community Safety, Enhancing Quality of Life and Developing People" also included a series of workshop sessions.

Bury's Council Leader, Councillor Derek Boden, said Bury's Community Safety Wardens have proved to be "an enormous asset" in the town centre of Bury, and he hoped to see the scheme expand into other towns in the borough.

"Bury has helped to pioneer neighbourhood and community wardens in this country and it is fitting that we should stage Britain's very first conference on the subject."

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