Streetwatchers Win National Award

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Moira Stewart at a ceremony celebrating the work of Ealing's community volunteers

Ealing Council’s Streetwatchers have picked up a national award at the Cleaner, Safer, Greener Awards 2008.

The Council project involves 350 community volunteers to make the borough a better place to live, won the Engaging Communities category at a ceremony on Monday night. 

Councillor Will Brooks, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Services, said: “We are delighted that the people who act as the eyes and ears of the borough on fly-tipping, graffiti and other envirocrime, have won national praise for their efforts.  Streetwatchers care passionately about their neighbourhoods and readily give up their free time to report problems to the Council.

“I hope that by throwing the spotlight on the excellent work taking place in our communities other local people will be encouraged to become Streetwatchers and that in time we have a Streetwatcher for every street in the borough.”

Broadcaster and former BBC News presenter, Moira Stewart, hosted the awards ceremony, which took place in Manchester.

There are 350 Streetwatchers across the borough, who help the Council to quickly identify and tackle Envirocrime issues and reduce the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. There are also 250 Junior Streetwatchers, aged 8-10 years old, who are trained to identify and report Envirocrime issues such as graffiti and fly-tipping.

The awards are held by environmental charity ENCAMS which runs the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign and monitors cleanliness levels for authorities across the UK.

March 6, 2008