STAB proof vests were bought for Ipswich traffic wardens over concerns of late-night drunken attacks, The Evening Star can reveal.Following a Freedom of Information request it has emerged that council bosses carried out a risk assessment study to look into the dangers of traffic wardens doing more evening work.

STAB proof vests were bought for Ipswich traffic wardens over concerns of late-night drunken attacks, The Evening Star can reveal.

Following a Freedom of Information request it has emerged that council bosses carried out a risk assessment study to look into the dangers of traffic wardens doing more evening work.

A number of issues were highlighted including:

The possibility of drunken attacks on the street

Traffic wardens being followed at the end of their shift

Threatening behaviour

Fears that boozed-up onlookers might approach wardens when another person's car is being ticketed.

Despite the risks being flagged up as “low”, plans were drawn up to provide stab proof vests for anyone wanting to wear them and provide conflict management and self defence training.

An airwave channel with police and a link-up with CCTV operators to make them aware of the location of traffic wardens were also suggested.

The council bought a total of ten stab proof vests were bought from Norwich Road army surplus shop Kombat.uk at a cost of £54.64, each excluding VAT, as revealed in The Star last Wednesday.

The results of the study are also set to be shared with litter enforcement managers to ensure they are aware of the risks of officers carrying out litter enforcement work of an evening.

An Ipswich Borough Council spokesman said: "The safety and well-being of our staff is of the utmost priority."

Factfile:

Council traffic wardens took over the responsibility for parking enforcement in October last year.

Since then the new wardens have reported five incidents of threatening behaviour.

More than £100,000 has been raised in fines since Ipswich Borough Council took over responsibility for parking.

The police had just four designated traffic wardens but the council now employs 15.

During the first two years of council enforcement the cash raised through fines will go to paying for extra resources being put into enforcement.

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www.ipswich.gov.uk