THE chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation has slammed Home Office proposals to create a new tier of civilian wardens with the power to detain members of the public.

Steve Edwards said it would be "absolute folly" to give the power of detention to non-police officers not properly trained.

He also said the idea could open the floodgates to litigation from members of the public claiming they were wrongly arrested.

Under the Government proposals Community Support Officers would be appointed to deal with problems like anti-social behaviour, graffiti and abandoned vehicles.

They would also be given the power to detain suspects for up to half-an-hour while police were called.

Mr Edwards said: "To give poorly-trained people the power to detain is absolute folly.

"What if the detention is unlawful and is pointed out as such by the police when they arrive at the scene? Who pays the litigation that could follow? This is a poorly thought-out proposal to con the public."

Community wardens already operate in more than 50 places across the country, including Burnley and Hyndburn, but they do not have any powers of detention.

Burnley MP Peter Pike recently called on Home Office Minister John Denham to provide extra cash for Lancashire Police to employ more of the civilian support staff in his Burnley constituency and elsewhere.

In Hyndburn, wardens' roles include patrolling their zones and reporting rubbish, dog fouling, juvenile nuisance, and other anti-social behaviour bothering residents.

They will also have the power to issue fixed penalty notices for litter and dog fouling, with the aim of reducing crime and improving the overall environment in the areas.

Their month-long training includes community safety, problem-solving, first aid, dealing with aggression, statement taking, and drug awareness.