The Neighbourhood Wardens work closely with parking services to identify and resolve issues relating to abandoned vehicles promptly and effectively.
Please see Abandoned vehicles
Parking services can be contacted at: Contact Parking Services
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Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens
Starting in summer 2025, our new Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens Team will patrol neighbourhoods to tackle anti-social behaviour. The team will operate across a 7-day shift based working pattern up until 10pm to ensure the streets of Merton are patrolled by uniformed council officers.
The team will work to tackle and reduce anti-social behaviour (ASB) by supporting and signposting victims, gathering evidence and conduct enforcement where delegated to do so.
Typically, you may see them patrolling in our town centres, ASB hotspots, open spaces, residential roads, engaging with the community and in areas where we receive anti-social behaviour complaints. Their objective is to make streets safer and provide an ‘on-street presence’.
Find out more about the Safer Streets Team pledge
Safer Streets A-Z
Find out more about the work of the team
Abandoned vehicles
Accidents or incidents
The Neighbourhood Wardens provide support to all the emergency services at major accidents and incidents across the borough we can assist by providing practical support to any affected residents and businesses.
In an emergency, always dial 999. For non-emergencies, you can call the police on 101 and get medical advice by calling 111.
Anti-social behaviour (ASB)
Anti-social behaviour is defined as 'behaviour by a person which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to persons not of the same household as the person' (Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003)
Neighbourhood Wardens work proactively with Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs). Joint patrols are conducted as required based on available intelligence.
Wardens also work closely with other council departments, including the CCTV team (a 24/7 service), Licensing and the dedicated ASB team. Wardens also liaise closely with Registered Social Landlords such as Clarion and MOAT.
To find out more about ASB and reporting see:
In an emergency, always dial 999. You can also report a crime by calling 101. For further information, please visit the Metropolitan Police website.
ASB: street drinking causing ASB
Neighbourhood Wardens have delegated powers which enable them to ask anyone causing anti-social behaviour to surrender alcohol and or stop drinking alcohol if they are causing ASB. Further information below
Alcohol consumption in public places | Public Spaces Protection Orders
Our wardens are also trained to signpost vulnerable persons towards help and support in relation to alcohol or substance abuse.
ASB: drugs
Drug dealing is a criminal offence and the remit of the Metropolitan Police. However, Neighbourhood Wardens officers will also patrol the areas where drug dealing is suspected to provide a deterrent.
In addition, Neighbourhood Wardens can compile evidence and share with the local Police team to take further action.
Wardens are also trained to signpost vulnerable persons towards help and support in relation to alcohol or substance abuse. See attached link:
Begging
Neighbourhood Wardens work closely with other council departments and charities to support vulnerable persons in relation to housing and employment.
Busking
Whilst not a particular problem identified in Merton, busking can in some cases be regarded as noisy and inconsiderate. Initially reports should be sent to the Noise team:
Car idling
Neighbourhood Wardens will engage with drivers of idling vehicles.
Idling (leaving your vehicle engine running while stationary) creates air pollution and is usually unnecessary. Under the highway code it states that ‘drivers must not leave a parked vehicle unattended with the engine running or leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while the vehicle is stationed on a public road’.
Merton Council is one of 31 London Local Authorities to have joined forced to tackle engine idling as part of Idling Action London project, supported by the Mayor of London. For more information about the project visit the Idling Action London website.
What can you do to help tackle engine idling? If you are a business, school, or community group you can sign up to the Engines Off pledge. Visit the Idling Action London website for more information.
For more information in Merton go to:
To report examples of vehicle idling, email pollution@merton.gov.uk
Cuckooing
Cuckooing is when drug dealers take over the home of a vulnerable person to use it for illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
Neighbourhood Wardens are trained to recognise signs of cuckooing and work closely with partners such as the Metropolitan Police, the ASB team and, Children and Adults Safeguarding and Housing officers to help affected residents.
For more information and to report any cuckooing concerns here:
Dog fouling
Dog mess is not only anti-social and unhygienic, but also a crime, so let's keep it off our streets.
If you see dog mess, please report it, and we'll come and deal with it. We can't be everywhere, all the time, so we're very grateful for your help.
Dog issues (lost and stray dogs)
For information regarding lost and found dogs, see:
Dangerous dogs
A dog is classified as dangerous if it injures someone, or if someone is in fear of being injured. If you have concerns about a dog being dangerous in a public place, whether or not you believe it is a stray dog, you should contact the police.
Emergency services
The Council has a duty to support the emergency services at major accidents and incidents across the borough. The Neighbourhood Wardens may (where required) assist with providing practical support to affected residents and businesses. Our Emergency Plan sets out in detail how the council responds to such incidents.
In an emergency, always dial 999. Please see out of hours emergency contact information.
Engagements
Neighbourhood Wardens have a supportive presence in the community and engage with residents to address their concerns.
Neighbourhood Wardens have geographical responsibilities and are expected to know their key residents, resident groups, and businesses. As ambassadors for the Council, community engagement is a key part of the role and priority alongside all other aspects of business.
For more information on the team please see: Safer Streets Team - Our Four Pledges to you.
Event work
The Neighbourhood Wardens conducts high-visibility patrols and may support marshalling duties at events across the borough to help keep everyone safe and secure.
Fly-posting
Neighbourhood Wardens can support other services to investigate illegal fly posting and take enforcement action where appropriate. Wardens will also arrange the removal of such posters.
Fly-tipping
Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste or rubbish. Fly-tipping is a serious criminal offence which carries an unlimited fine or imprisonment. Fly-tipping is often associated with dumping waste from vehicles. Our Neighbourhood Wardens support the Waste Enforcement team who are authorised to issue Fixed Penalty Notices for incidents of fly-tipping and lead on waste related investigations.
Graffiti
Our Neighbourhood Wardens will report any graffiti they see and report to Police if there are any concerns such as Hate Crime related.
Hate crime
Hate crime has no place in Merton, and we take any incidents of hate crime extremely seriously. Our Neighbourhood Wardens will report any incidents of Hate Crime witnessed or reported to them and support with necessary action.
For more information, including how to report see:
High-visibility reassurance patrols
Our Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens carry out borough-wide patrols including highways, parks and open spaces and on housing land as required and agreed with Housing Providers.
Neighbourhood Wardens have powers to enforce byelaws and a duty to help keep our public spaces safe and welcoming places for everyone to enjoy.
Neighbourhood Wardens work closely with the Metropolitan Police to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour problems across the borough.
Duties include:
- high visibility uniform patrolling on foot
- enforcing byelaws and public space protection orders
- the prevention and detection of crime
- dealing with anti-social behaviour
- working with residents and stakeholders to problem-solve local issues quickly and effectively
Highways
Neighbourhood Wardens will report any highways defects identified as part of their patrols. Where an offence can be identified they will take enforcement action where appropriate.
Illegal encampment or incursion
Councils and the Police have been given strong powers to deal with unauthorised encampments.
A joint protocol has been established between the Police and the Council and outlines the policy and operational response to unlawful encampments within the borough.
Each case of unauthorised encampment will be individually considered on its merits, before any decision on Police response is made.
The protocol acknowledges the status and rights of Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers as distinct ethnic groups and our duty under the Race Relations Amendment Act (RRAA) to positively promote good race relations.
For more information and to report an illegal encampment please see:
Licensing
As the eyes and ears of the council, the Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens feedback any issues relating to licensed premises to the Licensing department, who will lead on licensing issues. For more information go to:
Licensing private sector housing
For information, please see:
Litter
Litter is any rubbish that has been dropped and left in a public open space. This can include paper, cans, bottles, fast food wrappers and cigarette butts, spitting, urinating and defecating. We recognise that these are unwanted in public spaces.
Keeping our streets clean of litter is a council priority. The Neighbourhood Wardens will signpost any littering issues to Kingdom who provide our littering service in the council and support action where necessary. You can report at:
Missing or vulnerable persons
The Safer Streets Neighbourhood Warden Service and Community Safety Team work closely alongside the Metropolitan Police. Both are briefed on any missing or vulnerable persons to be aware of whilst conducting their patrols across the borough. If you need to report someone missing, please call the Police on 101 or visit the Police station at Wimbledon or Mitcham. If there are an immediate welfare concerns, call 999.
Noise complaints
Merton Council has a dedicated Noise and Nuisance team, and all reports should be logged with this team. For more information see:
The ASB team are responsible for tackling rowdy and inconsiderate behaviour in public open spaces. Please see:
The Neighbourhood Wardens will support work on these matters by patrolling locations of note and gathering information.
For noise nuisance on housing estates or property please contact your housing provider.
Operations – including multi-agency ‘Days of Enhanced Visibility’
Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens are tasked monthly and receive daily briefings. In addition, they take part in a number of multi-agency ‘Days of Enhanced Visibility’ throughout the year. We do this in collaboration with a range of partners to crack down on crime and anti-social behaviour and engage with the community in the target area.
Parks and cemeteries
Neighbourhood Wardens carry out borough-wide patrols including parks.
We have powers within the parks to enforce byelaws and a duty to help keep the parks safe and welcoming places for everyone to enjoy.
We work closely with the Metropolitan Police to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in all Merton parks and open spaces.
Pest control or vermin
For information go to: Report a pest problem
Police Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT)
Merton Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens are not Police officers but work closely with the Metropolitan Police. The Neighbourhood Wardens are the Council's eyes and ears and patrol anti-social behaviour and crime hotspots, deterring crime and nuisance.
If an offence is witnessed, the Neighbourhood Wardens collate information/evidence and share this with Police colleagues. Neighbourhood Wardens cannot detain suspected offenders but work closely with our CCTV unit to monitor incidents and alert the Police if they witness any criminal or anti-social activity.
Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs)
Neighbourhood Wardens are authorised to enforce PSPOs (Public Spaces Protection Orders). See attached for details of current PSPOs in Merton.
Alcohol consumption in public places | Public Spaces Protection Orders
Rough sleepers
Neighbourhood Wardens work closely with other Council departments and charities to support vulnerable persons in relation to housing and employment. Wardens are also trained to signpost vulnerable persons towards help and support.
If you are concerned about someone under the age of 18 you have seen sleeping rough, please call the Met police on 101.
If you believe the person is over the age of 18, please see Rough sleeping
You can also report directly through the Street Link website.
Sex work
Our Neighbourhood Wardens are trained to refer vulnerable persons to the appropriate charities and services for help. The safety of our residents is paramount.
For information on Merton Council’s strategy to combat Violence Against Women and Girls, see Violence against women and girls
Site visits or meetings
Merton’s Safer Streets Neighbourhood Wardens are available to attend site visits and meetings so that any ASB issues can be raised directly with them. Where issues are raised wardens should be able to answer questions and provide updates until resolved.
To request a site visit or attend a meeting, please email: SaferStreetsTeam@merton.gov.uk
Street trading
Neighbourhood Wardens can assist with street trading where this is causing an obstruction to the highway. We also work closely with Trading Standards in relation to illegal street trading.
For more information see Street trading
Urination and defecation
Neighbourhood Wardens are authorised to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice to anyone found urinating in public.
Violence against women and girls (VAWG)
The United Nations (UN) define the term Violence Against Women and Girls as "Any act of gender-based violence that results in or is likely to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women [or girls], including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty." (1993, Article 1, United Nations Declaration on Elimination of Violence against Women).
For more information, see Violence against women and girls
Waste (commercial)
Neighbourhood Warden works closely with our colleagues in Waste Enforcement to monitor responsible commercial waste disposal.
For further information relating to commercial waste, see Commercial and schools waste services
Waste (domestic including garden and time banded collections)
Clean and tidy streets are very important in making Merton a pleasant place to live in and work in, and to visit.
To check your collection times, see Collection days for rubbish, recycling and garden waste
Waste (front gardens)
Merton Council have no jurisdiction to clear waste on private land and as such this is the responsibility of the owner or occupier.
Where waste is visible from the roadside, unsightly and that may attract vermin which is deemed detrimental to the amenity of the area, Neighbourhood Wardens can request that the owner or occupier clears such waste.
If the problem persists, we can use our powers under the Environmental Protection Act and or Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 which may result in a fixed penalty notice, remedial costs and/or prosecution.
Weapon sweeps
The Neighbourhood Wardens will, at times, support Police with weapons sweeps of areas like parks or housing grounds and search for any items that could be used to cause harm.
Welfare checks
Neighbourhood Wardens are trained in safeguarding and where vulnerable individuals are identified signpost to adult social services.
For more information, see Personal alarms and home monitoring – Mascot Telecare