BURY'S continental counterparts came to town to discover the secret behind the successful community safety warden scheme.

And town hall and college leaders know that the foreign visitors will have more than just fine words to take away with them.

Bury is working with partners from Italy, France, Belgium and Holland on a range of projects to tackle long term unemployment, funded through the European Social Fund.

A full-day conference, the Colombazur Trans-national meeting, was held last Friday at Bury Town Hall to give representatives from abroad a chance to find out just how well the wardens scheme, which recruits from the dole queue, has been going as it reaches its first anniversary. During their stay the visitors will have the chance to not only see the town centre Community Safety Wardens in operation but also look at other linked aspects. These include CCTV, a link-up with Bury College and discussions with officials from the anti-drug initiative, Early Break.

College students doing an Advanced GNVQ in art and design have designed a certificate which will be presented to everyone who takes part in such schemes across Europe.

Councillor Derek Boden, council leader, said: "Our community safety wardens scheme was one of the first in the country and we had a lot of learning to do. Fortunately we were able to draw on experiences in Europe, particularly from Holland, where similar schemes have been running for some time.

"Now, hopefully, some of the lessons we have learned can be passed on to our counterparts on the Continent and I am sure that they will be invaluable."

At the conference, Bury's divisional police commander, Chief Supt Phil Hollowood, talked about community safety and the Crime and Disorder Act.

Talks were also given by the foreign visitors and Bury Council's chief executive Dennis Taylor and safety wardens manager Ged McGee.

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