AN Accrington security boss says the town will be the worse after a decision to axe a community warden scheme to save cash.

Hyndburn Borough Council decided to cut the project, which had been set up in November, 1994, at a recent meeting.

But Shaun Raywood, the boss of Guardhall Security Services, which ran the scheme, did not know of the decision as he was on holiday and was shocked to read about the news on his return.

Mr Raywood says the community wardens, based at his Cannon Street headquarters, were an unqualified success in reducing crime in the town.

He added: "In the first year of the project in Accrington shoplifitng went down by 43 per cent, criminal damage by 53 per cent and stealing from vehicles by 91 per cent. "We were proud of that success and proud to be one of the first in the country, with others from around the country looking at our scheme with a view to setting up their own version.

"There was a constant uniformed presence in Accrington town centre and it was the old fashioned policing of yesterday. The modern police force is a very well trained response force. But the key word there is response.

"By their own admission the police have a workload which is very pressurised and I believe they will eventually become like the fire brigade. They will be responsive rather than preventative."

The decision by Hyndburn Council came at a controversial time as Home Secretary Jack Straw is considering introducing measures which would see security guards patrolling estates and town centres.

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