ALCOHOL confiscation and issuing fixed penalty notices are among powers conferred by police on wardens of a housing organisation.

West Mercia Constabulary's Chief Constable, Paul West, officially accredited seven wardens and two supervisors at Wyre Forest Community Housing with the powers during a visit to Kidderminster.

Other duties they can carry out include asking for names and addresses under certain circumstances, stopping vehicles to test them and removing abandoned cars.

Speaking at the housing group's Foley Grove headquarters, Mr West said: "Wyre Forest Community Housing have had wardens in place for a number of years now so they were an ideal organisation to be one of the first in the country to be accredited by the police to use specific powers.

"Allowing companies and organisations to be accredited will mean an increase in the number of people available in public places to assist in improving everyone's quality of life."

He explained that, unlike Community Support Officers, accredited people were not employed by the police but by the organisation applying for recognition.

Mr West added that applicant organisations had to show they were "fit and proper" employers and that their employees given the powers would be vetted and wear clearly recognisable clothing carrying a badge confirming their status.

"Different organisations may apply for different powers and we need to see strong evidence that their staff have been fully trained in relation to the use of those powers," he went on.

"Whoever trains the wardens must also be approved by the police. Overall, it's a very thorough process and one that we hope will increase the flow of information and intelligence between partner agencies about what is happening on the streets."

Ray Brookes, chief executive of Wyre Forest Community Housing, said: "We are very proud to be part of the Community Safety Accreditation scheme and believe that this will enhance the service already provided by the neighbourhood wardens and support the positive work they, and our ASB (anti-social behaviour) unit, are carrying out in the local community."

Supt John Molloy, who led the project, said: "I believe the accreditation of Wyre Forest Community Housing is the first of many."