HOUNSLOW'S Beavers Estate is to benefit from Neighbourhood Wardens thanks to the Community Against Drugs Initiative, it was announced this week.

Neighbourhood Wardens, along with a team manager, will work with local residents and the police to improve community safety and help gather information around drugs issues and to reduce the fear of crime.

The scheme, which is in association with Hounslow Homes, aims to have wardens patrolling estates every day between 3pm to 11pm and will involve both the police and Hounslow Youth Service, who will offer a youth activity programme.

Run by Activate Plus Ltd at the Focus Centre, the programme will involve activities like sports, arts, crafts and music with drugs education integrated into these activities.

Over the last two years more than 3500 incidents have been dealt with on other estates ranging from abandoned cars to drug incidents but the wardens have also been involved in community projects such as arranging football competitions and fun days.

The Hounslow Neighbourhood Warden Scheme also has a professional Witness Officer who fast tracks cases of anti social behaviour to a successful resolution by carrying out covert surveillance, giving evidence in court, supporting victims and liasing with the police.

A recent customer satisfaction survey shows that 96 per cent of residents in the Neighbourhood Warden Scheme area want the service to continue beyond March 2004 when the pilot is due to end.

The survey highlighted that 68 per cent of the residents feel safer now than they did before the Neighbourhood Wardens started.