Row Over Street Warden Plan for Market Harborough Town Centre

A row has broken out over plans to deploy private street wardens in Market Harborough town centre to help tackle shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

The move is being proposed by Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews as part of a £2 million countywide scheme, which would run as an 18-month trial.

Critics say the money should instead be invested in more frontline police officers and PCSOs.

Harborough District Council Deputy Leader Phil King says he is concerned about the plans.

Reform UK commissioner Mr Matthews said there is strong evidence that street wardens provide a cost-effective, practical and community-focused response to the challenges facing market towns.

He said similar schemes in places including Ashby, Melton Mowbray and Hinckley have helped deter anti-social behaviour, shoplifting and low-level crime, while freeing up police time by preventing issues from escalating.

Wardens would work in pairs and be linked to local CCTV, equipped with body-worn cameras and trained in de-escalation, safeguarding and mental health awareness.

A competitive tender process is due to begin shortly, with wardens expected to be in place before Christmas.

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Oliver Bryan defended the proposal:

Rupert Matthews outside Market Harborough

Andy Spence, Chair of the Leicestershire Police Federation, says he is “really concerned” by the plans.

He accused Mr Matthews of previously trying to “underfund the police force” before making a “U turn”, and says the £2 million could instead pay for around 60 police officers or PCSOs.

Mr Spence says trained officers already have the “powers, training, infrastructure and experience” needed to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour effectively.

Chris Hanrahan, branch secretary of Unison at Leicestershire Police, also criticised the proposal, saying police officers and PCSOs provide a “visible, trusted and professional service” and warning that diverting funding into private security risks undermining neighbourhood policing.