Community wardens are to step up patrols in Medway.

The council employees currently work weekdays up to 10pm, but are set to extend their coverage to weekends with all wards visited at least once a week.

Medway Council’s safer communities officer, Gavin Wilders revealed the news at a meeting held to discuss a 12-point plan to combat crime and anti-social behaviour across the Towns.

The increase of warden cover forms part of a three year community safety strategy, which now has the backing of councillors despite concern at a lack of public consultation.

Members of the community overview committee said more community feedback was needed.

But decided against any delay in introducing a new three year partnership plan in case strict government targets are missed.

The strategy was drawn up by Kent Police with support from various crime-fighting organisations including Medway Council.

They are all members of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).

Presenting the report community safety manager Corinna Woollett aplogised for the lack of consultation.

“Unfortunately this year restricts partners providing figures, so it relies heavily on police statistics,” the meeting heard.

“The time is very short.”

The committee supported the 12 crime fighting priorities proposed by the partnership.

They include tackling violence in the street and at home, combating terrorism, substance abuse - and boosting public involvement.

Cllr Paul Godwin (Lab), a member of the Kent Police Authority, said he was concerned about the lack of consultation with the community before the report was went out to the partners.

Ms Woollett said that they planned to get to hard-to-reach communities, possibly with in-store displays.

The neighbourhood warden scheme was launched in 2002 to tackle low-level anti-social behaviour and to reduce the fear of crime.