BURY'S Community Safety Wardens have put themselves well and truly in the picture.

A new ten-minute promotional video about the pioneering scheme has now been produced.

Designed not only to promote the initiative but also to be useful for training purposes, the video gives the wardens a chance to talk about their job. Local shoppers are also interviewed expressing satisfaction with the scheme.

Others featured in the video include Bury Council's chief executive, Mr Dennis Taylor; Bury Divisional Chief Superintendent, Mr Phil Hollowood; and Community Safety Project Manager, Mr Ged McGee.

Bury's Council leader, Councillor Derek Boden, is now hoping that a copy of the tape will go to Home Secretary Jack Straw. Councillor Boden said: "Mr Straw will eventually make a decision on whether or not schemes like the one that we are pioneering here in Bury become commonplace right across the UK.

"We are extremely pleased with our project. When we set it up we drew on the expertise of counterparts in Europe. Now, though, I think it is fair to say that we are passing on many of the experiences we have learned here and they are proving invaluable to our continental friends."

On October 1, a major conference will be held in Bury. The day-long event is part of a three-day visit by Bury's partners from Holland, Italy, France and Belgium.

The conference, titled "Promoting Community Safety, Enhancing Quality of Life and Developing People", is again designed to pass on the experiences of Bury's scheme over the last 12 months. There will also be feedback from the European partners.

Project manager Mr McGee, added: "Our guests will also have the chance to see our scheme in operation and we will be able to discuss in more detail community safety issues and look at the way forward."

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