Website of the UK government

Town centre management

Town centre management brings together a variety of people and organisations aiming to  tackle issues such as crime, street layout and furniture, transport problems and quality of the environment.

Town centre management teams regularly review an area to make sure any changes are still working for businesses and residents. They may improve the local area by:

• installing CCTV systems to reduce street crime such as theft, drug dealing and assault
• making shopping areas pedestrian only zones
• landscaping unused waste land
• improving street lighting
Your local town centre management team may include:
• residents
• local businesses
• police
• council departments
• community safety groups
• neighbouring councils

If you would like to find out about town centre management in your area or would like to get involved, contact your local council.

• Find your local council

Street wardens and crime prevention

Many councils use street wardens to help with community safety projects and provide a presence in town centres. All street wardens are part of official schemes, and supported by community groups and the police.

Wardens also contribute to community development and provide a contact point between you, your local authority and the police.

Joint community and street warden schemes have included:

• litter picking for young people
• local football matches and teams
• schools visits
• escorting vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, disabled and victims of crime

If you would like more information about the street warden service in your local area, contact your local council.
To find out more about crime prevention in your area, the following link will let you enter details of where you live and then take you to your local council website.

• Find out about crime prevention in town centres Opens new window

More useful links

• Reducing crime (Crime, justice and the law section)
• Anti-social behaviour (Crime, justice and the law section)
• Tackling crime (Crime, justice and the law section)