Renfrewshire Council

Based in Paisley's community safety hub, just a stone's throw away from Renfrewshire House, our team of community wardens can be seen patrolling our streets all year round.  

We spoke to Senior community support officer, Moya Garner to find out more about the team's role in keeping our communities safe and how they navigate the challenges that come with the tempestuous Scottish weather. Moya said: 

"Although our job titles are community support officers, we're more commonly known as community wardens. Everything we do is about keeping the area safe and functioning, and if there's an emergency or a disruption on the streets, we're often the first ones there.

Image: Gemma Morrison (community support officer), Siobhan Burns (community support assistant) and Moya Garner (senior community support officer).

"No two days are the same. Our teams are out on patrol in wind, rain, and snow, and after the recent Storm Éowyn, we were very busy supporting colleagues to manage traffic and assist local people trying to go about their day. 

"We also deal with issues like littering, dog fouling, abandoned vehicles, and antisocial behaviour. These problems tend to rise during the winter months, and one of the challenges we face is attending to more instances in fewer daylight hours.  

"We often have to leave the areas we are patrolling to respond to calls, which can involve anything from supplying water to homes when there's a burst pipe, to de-escalating public disturbances.  

"Due to the unpredictable nature of these situations, it's important that we take steps to ensure our own safety. When it's too dark to see clearly, we have to be more cautious when approaching an incident. We also wear body cameras and have been trained in de-escalation techniques to handle confrontation or potentially dangerous scenarios safely. 

"As wardens, we can also issue penalty charge notices where regulations have been breached. While this can be challenging, everything we do is about providing a fair and helpful service for the community, keeping traffic flowing and ensuring vehicles are parked safely. 

"At local events such as Halloween and Christmas light switch-ons, we support and guide the public and help reunite any children who have become separated from their group.   

"A lot of the time, people see us as a reassuring presence, and we often work closely with the police, as well as our colleagues monitoring local CCTV cameras, and customer contact centre teams. 

"It's rewarding to be that person who's there to assist and provide critical support in our communities. We get lots of great feedback from people we've helped, and I enjoy getting to know locals and keeping an eye out for them." 

 Thanks to Moya for taking the time to share these insights into the important work our community wardens do throughout winter and all year-round. 

For more information on how the council prepares for emergencies including severe weather, and for useful advice and guidance visit the RenReady page on our public website. 

Published on Thursday 20 February 2025