David Milliband visits Union Street

David Milliband (right) with Dulwich warden David Potter outside the resource centre in Union Street

Southwark's community wardens service is the biggest in London and was launched in Bermondsey almost four years ago, closely followed by another in Peckham. Since then community warden patrols have been rolled out across the borough. A scheme covering Bankside and the Pool of London was introduced two years ago.

The scheme has attracted national acclaim with Southwark being one of only three local authorities in London – and just one of 12 centres in the country – chosen to host a flagship resource and training centre funded by the ODPM.

The London Warden Resource Centre in Union Street offers accredited training, vocational qualifications, advice and support for organisations and agencies operating warden schemes. It is also one of the few regional facilities to offer training for housing and security staff.

"The professionalism and standards of the Southwark service have been recognised at a national level which is all credit to the wardens and managers of the service," said Cllr Nick Stanton, leader of Southwark Council.

"The service has developed since it started in 2002 into the biggest scheme in the capital and I know how much residents welcome seeing community wardens out on their streets."