The introduction of Street Wardens as a social policy intervention in Britain targeting the regeneration of local communities: Theory and practice

The Street Wardens Programme (SWP) in Britain was set up in April 2001 with the intention of improving the 'liveability' of deprived neighbourhoods. The SWP is founded on the assumption that most local problems are characterised by nuisances and incivilities rather than serious or violent crime. Based on this construction of local problems, the 'broken windows theory' and the concomitant desire to build `social capital' underpins the logic of how an intervention such as the SWP may be successful. Using evidence from the national evaluation of the SWP, this paper demonstrates how constructions and experiences of local problems and their severity are not unitary. This poses challenges to the understanding and expectation of how an intervention such as the SWP can be effective. Variable implementation of programme interventions can also lead to bias towards activities with more visible pay-offs. This can lead to other entrenched social problems being untouched.