I have a feeling we've talked about this before, but I couldn't find it so...

What's the point in the City Centre Ambassadors? What do they actually do? They seem to stroll round in groups of three when it's sunny, and when it's raining they go and hide in the Winter Gardens.

Anyway, Sheffield City Council shave just announced that instead of four Ambassadors, there will now be 17. No wonder the council tax is increasing. Will there be room for any members of the public in the Winter Gardens when the city council's finest are all hiding in there?

I seen these people suddenly appear in the past few months without an idea of what it is they actually do, maybe someone from the council could leave a posting and explain.

They were on the news today, alongwith Leeds' new Community Police Officers. It appears they're there to keep an eye on the city centre and inform the police if they are needed (tho' I could've got this wrong?!).

(Always wondered what they did!)

Digging up this old thread - thanks to the power of search (http://www.sheffieldforum.co.uk/search.php) ;)

While walking past City Hall a few days ago, I noticed two of the new Community Support Officers chatting with two of the City Centre Ambassadors. It suddenly occured to me that there must be a major overlap in their duties?

Has anyone ever talked to an Ambassador? Or maybe some of our users who work for the council might be able to provide an explanation of their role? Will they now be phased and replaced with the CS officers?

I'm applying for the job of an ambassador..
Their job is to provide security within the city centre 7am-7pm, which includes catching shoplifters, moving on youths that are hassleing members of public, and aiding the police in capture of theives.

Right thanks for that lista :)

But I'm still confused. The jobs you describe above are what I thought the Community Support officers were here for. Did you consider joining them? Do you know what the difference is? Also, I'm assuming that Ambassadors have no power to arrest - so surely it would best to now convert them in to Community Support officers?

Unsure on that one matey, but Ambassador sounds better than 'Community Support Officer'...

Also, Ambassadors have the power to hold someone until the police arrive, thats about it.

Originally posted by Lista
Also, Ambassadors have the power to hold someone until the police arrive, thats about it.
Everyone has that right - and yes I agree that "Community Support Officer" isn't the best of titles - how about "Police on the Cheap"? Ooh... I'm too cynical :P

I had a job interview at shalesmoor I had no idea where it was I was wondering around the city center assuming that it was near "the moor" but to no avail.
I asked an ambass' and got directed to right way! So i have them to thank for the job I am currently in :D :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Cambridge dictionary says: "an important official who lives in a foreign country to represent his or her own country there, and who is officially accepted in this position by that country"

So I guess a city centre ambassador is a important official who visits ambassadors in other city centres, arranges trade deals, stops Sheffield and Leeds from going to war, and eats lots of Ferero Rocher.

and eats lots of Ferero Rocher

Ha ha! And they'd have to be good at giving and receiving too!

they also help tourists or ppl new to the area, with 2 uni's there are a lot of ppl who wont know where places are and they can ask these ppl.

they are also there to promote the city to tourists.

When i first moved up here i found them very helpful as i kept getting lost or wondering where certain shops/places/streets were

I'm glad you've found them useful. Although no-one has yet to give a reason why we need two units (CSU and Ambassadors) who do pretty much the same job. Also, every time I've seen an Amabassador they are normally talking in groups and not very approachable.

Does anyone here either a) work as an ambassador or community support officer or b) know one that they can in contact with?

I can explain the duties of the Ambassadors,
1: to be a visual presence on the street, to help in reducing street crime and fear of crime in the city centre.
2:Be the "eyes and ears" for the council, checking for general maintenance of the city eg: lighting, street furniture, litter on the streets.
3:Work with other agencies like Rockingham drugs project, Big issue, Archer project, Enviromental services, police, fire safety and grime busters.
4:Reduce the collection time of sharps (needles).
5:Enforce council bylaws for litter with £50 fines (only a select few can do this)
6: Deal with enviromental issues sich as trade waste and graffiti (cleaning it up, not just reporting it)
7:Get involved with car crime reduction schemes.
8:To be a presence on the streets as a mobile information unit for tourists and shoppers (this is what the general public see and not most of the above)
9: (try) to help the homeless and street drinkers find a place refering them to outreach workers etc.

Cheers duffman - out of interest what is your source for that info?

Sorry ran out of space,
10: Removal of fly posters in the city, trying to find an alternative solution to advertising.

I know all this as I am an ambassador,so I hope you find this useful and please don't just think we walk round in the sun and stand in the winter gardens in the rain (but we do look after it) as I have been walking round in the rain today looking through bags of dumped rubbish getting it cleaned up getting soaked in the process.

Originally posted by duffman
I can explain the duties of the Ambassadors,
1: to be a visual presence on the street, to help in reducing street crime and fear of crime in the city centre.
2:Be the "eyes and ears" for the council, checking for general maintenance of the city eg: lighting, street furniture, litter on the streets.
3:Work with other agencies like Rockingham drugs project, Big issue, Archer project, Enviromental services, police, fire safety and grime busters.
4:Reduce the collection time of sharps (needles).
5:Enforce council bylaws for litter with £50 fines (only a select few can do this)
6: Deal with enviromental issues sich as trade waste and graffiti (cleaning it up, not just reporting it)
7:Get involved with car crime reduction schemes.
8:To be a presence on the streets as a mobile information unit for tourists and shoppers (this is what the general public see and not most of the above)
9: (try) to help the homeless and street drinkers find a place refering them to outreach workers etc.

10. To keep the factory that makes purple jackets busy.

the jackets are blue!

Originally posted by duffman
the jackets are blue!

Oops!

They were purple at one time, but that was before I started, the purple jacket factory were not at all happy when they changed.lol.

Originally posted by duffman
...please don't just think we walk round in the sun and stand in the winter gardens in the rain
Lol, this made me laugh... I'm glad that you realise it appears the majority of Ambassadors tend to hang around the Winter Gardens.

Top stuff - thanks duffman :cool:

Edit...

2:Be the "eyes and ears" for the council, checking for general maintenance of the city eg: lighting, street furniture, litter on the streets.
I know about quite a few city centre lights that haven't been working since about last September, can I assume that an ambassador has reported them? What's your "patrol zone" - i.e. how far from the Winter Gardens do you stray? :P

I hope now that everyone knows that I work as an ambassador you wont all pelt me with abuse, I get enough of that anyway!

The "patrol zone" is every area within the inner ringroad, there's a good chance thet have been reported, but it's not up to us to get them fixed, all we can do is chase it up until they get done.

Hi duffman, can I use this medium to complain about the pounding music that comes out of that shop opposite WH Smiths? I asked the police about it but they weren't interested. It drowns out everything at that end of Fargate including those nice musicians from Chile.

- how far from the Winter Gardens do you stray?

Not to be bitter, but it really annoys me when people go on about that.

As for the noise pollution on fargate, the enviromental protection unit are the people to get hold of which is what i'm tying to do, I hope everyone wont pass on problems via these forums, it does need to go via the correct channels.

I saw an ambasidor stopping a fight between a newspaper seller and a lorry driver the other day, so they do some useful things.

Another ambasidor stopped me to ask if I'd seen two people fighting with a knife, because someone had reported it...I'd prefer it if the police came when someone reported that kind of thing.

Do you have any powers to deal with the people selling tat in Fargate?

What are the correct channels for bringing matters to your attention? Should we stop you and tell you, or can we phone up?

If you see us on the street then approach us (we don't bite) and if there's a problem we can either sort it on the spot or give you a number or contact that can sort out your problem, we're only human so we can't help with every enquiry, I hope i'm being of some help with the info i've provided.

As for the "tat", trading standards and fraud benefit sometimes work with us on that (it's ongoing)

I also notice the question came up why ambassadors and C.S.O?
The C.S.Os also patrol estates around the city that don't have a warden scheme, they have the power to detain for 30min on suspicion of a crime.

can u get ur name on the back of ur jacket? go to street wise sports n ask them for duffman on it, then we'll know who u are :D

I think it is a point that if you are to be acting in a capacity to aid police and security for the peace/winter gardens etc. you need some 'twos' to go with your 'blues'. Some sort of ID badge or number so that you can be identified.

Random post monster hat on:

This is a really good thread and good use of the forum i think, because we had a question set by one person then we had ideas from another thenwe actually had someone which is a person that knows wht hes on about to put every ones mind at rest. it shows how geoffs comunity has so many people from so many back grounds and occupations thhat no matter what we post there willl always be someone to put us right!!

sorry i had to say it.

Fletch

Originally posted by Pete1024
I think it is a point that if you are to be acting in a capacity to aid police and security for the peace/winter gardens etc. you need some 'twos' to go with your 'blues'. Some sort of ID badge or number so that you can be identified.
Although they had their backs to me (:P) I think I did spot a plastic ID badge hanging from their jacket - although I'm sure duffman will be able to confirm/deny this.

We do have council ID badges, the reason we dont have collar numbers is the council wanted to stay away from the image of us looking like police.

I would love to get Duffman on the back of my jacket with a large picture of him thrusting towards a large glass of beer-OH YEAH! (I think i've said too much now!):D

I would have thought breaking up knife fights is pretty risky stuff - does that really happen duffman?

If so, you deserve a lot of credit... that's a tough job! :thumbsup:

Originally posted by duffman
- how far from the Winter Gardens do you stray?

Not to be bitter, but it really annoys me when people go on about that.

I think this is a valid point though.

I think the Ambassadors are a good idea, however if you asked most people what they actually do/where they patrol I'd guess that they would mention hanging around in the Winter Gardens.

Most lunchtimes there are usually 2 or 3 in there. Surely 1 Ambassador stationed in the Winter Gardens is adequate?

As far as I know the fight was not broken up by us which we don't do anyway (don't have the training for that), the reason we went up would have been to monitor the situation until the police arrived (Knife and fight in the same sentence to me should warrant the police coming up), when the police arrive we can give any evidence of who said/did what and also if there was any danger to the public we would try and have to keep it away from them. Priority is our and public safety.

As for the winter gardens, we patrol in pairs, and you may see us changing over at lunch times where we pass on any info to each other, so to people in there it may look like we are talking, we have 2 in the winter garden for fire and safety reasons, as I said before our and public safety first.

Originally posted by alert_bri
I would have thought breaking up knife fights is pretty risky stuff - does that really happen duffman?

If so, you deserve a lot of credit... that's a tough job! :thumbsup:

He didn't break up a fight, because there was no fight. I was behind my work, putting our rubbish in the bin (yeah, I get all the good jobs), when an ambassador came down the alleyway and asked if I'd seen two people fighting with a knife, because someone had called in to report it. However, nobody was there, so it must have been a false alarm. My point was that it would have been more appropriate to send the police.

Originally posted by Lista
I'm applying for the job of an ambassador..
Their job is to provide security within the city centre 7am-7pm, which includes catching shoplifters, moving on youths that are hassleing members of public, and aiding the police in capture of theives.

Who do you apply to for this role and what is the wage???

Jubby

I'm affraid there are no posts for the job as any extension has to be funded, but keep an eye out in the papers and check the council website aswell, plus the quote you used isn't quite accurate, I placed a list with some of the duties we take on.

Originally posted by duffman
I'm affraid there are no posts for the job as any extension has to be funded, but keep an eye out in the papers and check the council website aswell, plus the quote you used isn't quite accurate, I placed a list with some of the duties we take on.

Yeah saw that after Duff.

btw the way what is the wage, I have never had to ask anyone of them for help, but glad a presence is there.

Sometimes with the city centre being part predestrianed and the other a one way system, I think its good to have them in the city centre. I see police as well.

As for people moaning that there are in pairs that is best for their own safety. I have worked in security and sometimes wouldn't even attend something unless I knew I was being backed up.

Working on your own is dangerous and they could be on any amount of wage and being stuck with an infected needle is not worth any amount. I haven't been stuck btw but have been threatened with an infected needle, it was at a carpark for the place I was guarding (a large retail store) me and the store detective, just stood and watch a guy known to us break into cars (he was HIV+) the owner of one of the cars came upto us and asked when we were going to do something. We told we had we had asked for police to attend. In fact a police car was just round the corner himself waiting for backup in the sense of a van of 6 more coppers and a dog van before they would tackle him, becuase he does carry (and was) infected needle. Now we knew about this guy, but what if we hadn't???

The ambassordors and the police and CSO's do a grand and sometimes dangerous job.

I've just been listening to BBC Radio Five Live and they did a feature on Sheffield's City Centre Ambassadors.

I didn't know anything about this. Apparently they've been around for 6 years.

Can anyone say if they are doing any good - are they having any effect on petty crime etc?

Crime reduction isn't their primary role, there's more about them here (http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/out--about/city-centre-pages/city-centre-ambassadors). They seem like generally nice people you can stop and ask stuff, or just have a chat. Always easy to spot, especially on Saturdays - they're the only folk in town just sauntering along in no real hurry to get anywhere. Proper chilled. In fact, I think I'd quite enjoy it, providing the weather wasn't bad!

Thanks for that. I must have misheard, as the link you provided says they've only been around since 2001.

The radio feature included a vox pop and virtually no one they spoke to had heard of the Ambassadors

Merged threads.

Originally posted by mojoworking
Thanks for that. I must have misheard, as the link you provided says they've only been around since 2001.

The radio feature included a vox pop and virtually no one they spoke to had heard of the Ambassadors

Hi your forum ambassador here:D

The website is a bit poor to be honest, I am authorised to write and moderate at the minute and I will be writing some material in the near future hopefully, good news stories, events run by us etc, etc.

Well I didn't know about this radio feature, and excuse my ignorance but what is a vox pop? never heard of that before. We did a survey in the city centre, I don't know the exact numbers but a very large percentage knew who we were and what we did, now this was in the centre so obviously it should be high. Where did this vox pop take place? If it wasn't in the city centre it wouldn't suprise me that few had heard of us.

Anyway check out the thread as I have listed the duties we perform (more to come soon probably aswell)

I recently visited Sheffield for the first time and was lost in the city centre. A city centre ambassador approached my friend and me and helped us out - not only asking us where we were heading and helping us to get there, but also making excellent suggestions about places we might like to visit and see etc.

We were both extremely impressed by the service - it really gave us a friendly welcome to the and I would recommend the scheme to other cities on this basis. I personally think the ambassadors provide a superb balance of assistance, security and information provision.

Originally posted by jonnya
I recently visited Sheffield for the first time and was lost in the city centre. A city centre ambassador approached my friend and me and helped us out - not only asking us where we were heading and helping us to get there, but also making excellent suggestions about places we might like to visit and see etc.

We were both extremely impressed by the service - it really gave us a friendly welcome to the and I would recommend the scheme to other cities on this basis. I personally think the ambassadors provide a superb balance of assistance, security and information provision.

Thanks jonnya, glad we could be of service to you:thumbsup:

It's nice when we get compliments makes you feel like you've made a change (big or small).

I have just performed a search for these buddies of mine as I feel compelled to add my lil' ol' 'tuppenceworth':

Are't they great??

I little bit like seatbelts, you hope you don't ever need to call on them, but it's reassuring to know they are there.

And they feel great wrapped around your midrift...

errr or not...

Seriously though, good work Ambassadors, it's nice to know you're there!

I have seen then shout at ppl for dropping litter and fag butts!

Originally posted by burny
I have seen then shout at ppl for dropping litter and fag butts!

Quite right too, people shouldn't be doing that.

Can the ambassadors issue £50 fines for littering? :rant: :rant:

I really like city centre ambassadors, I like to think that if i had a problem (of city centre capacity) then I could go to them, I think they always look happy. I like them!

So goodbye then Ambassadors,
you certainly had your detractors,
I found you very comforting.
when, late at night, homeward bound
your presence always could be found.

Is that meant to be a poem..?