'No Excuse For Abuse,' Say Brighton & Hove Traffic Wardens

Tuesday, 13 February 2024 06:00

The city’s Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs) are wearing a new patch on their uniforms, reminding people that there’s ‘no excuse for abuse’.

The CEOs, more commonly known as traffic wardens, will wear the patches to hammer home the message that abuse and violence towards them is unacceptable and won’t be tolerated.

The new patches come just over six months after the introduction of Body Worn Video Cameras in the city.

Since June 2023, there has been a reduction in physical violence directed at CEOs. Where there have been violent incidents, the council has been able to send corroborating evidence to Sussex Police to investigate.

But there has been an increase in verbal threats towards staff.

Councillor Trevor Muten, Chair of the Transport and Sustainability committee said:

“Our CEOs work very hard in challenging circumstances to keep the city moving. There’s no reason why anyone should suffer verbal or physical abuse while carrying out their duties.

“We’ve seen our CEOs go above and beyond; helping people across busy roads, reuniting residents with lost property, or supporting blue light services in emergencies – the very least they deserve is our respect.

“However, they are still a target of aggression which can take a huge toll on their wellbeing. I hope these patches will serve as a reminder that we take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of our staff.”

Stephen Parish, Account Director at NSL said:

“NSL is fully committed to the safety and wellbeing of all our CEOs who play a vital role in the community.

“The introduction of the Zero Tolerance logos along with the Body Worn Video are crucial steps in pursuing prosecutions and reminding the public that abuse towards our staff is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

“Our aim is not only to protect them but also ensure they feel supported at all times as they continue to contribute to keeping our city moving and acting to support the public in a wide range of scenarios.”