South Bank Patrol shortlisted for Home Office award

The South Bank Patrol is one of 11 projects shortlisted from more than 70 entries for the 2012 Tilley Awards.

Members of the public are invited to vote at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/tilley-awards until 2 November. The winner will be announced in December.

The warden patrol service, provided by the Shield Guarding Company, is run by the South Bank Employers' Group and its staff have limited police powers under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme.

The Home Office says that since the South Bank Patrol was launched there has been a 59 per cent reduction in the number of reported incidents of antisocial behaviour, an increase in the number of homeless people using support services and an 80 per cent reduction in calls to police about street drinking.

"We in Lambeth are immensely proud of the way the CSAS has been used so successfully to tackle antisocial behaviour on the South Bank and surrounding area," said Cllr Jack Hopkins, Lambeth's cabinet member for public protection and community safety.

"The problem solving and flexible approach of CSAS typifies what we are trying to do across Lambeth – that is to support community partnerships to solve the specific problems of that neighbourhood.

"As a result of this work, the South Bank, one of Lambeth's cultural gems, is a safer place to live, visit and work.

"I cannot congratulate enough the work that SBEG and the wider partnership do. 'Best practice' is a phrase often used – however in this case it is absolutely justified."

Minister of state for crime Prevention Jeremy Browne MP said: "I want the public to feel as engaged as possible in how crime is tackled locally which is why we are once again opening the shortlisted entries to a public vote. I would encourage anyone to view the excellent projects on the Tilley Awards shortlist and select their favourite."

The Tilley Awards were set up in 1999 and are named after Professor Nick Tilley.