ALMOST half of Newport's community safety wardens are unable to use their full powers because they have not been trained.

Only 13 of the city's 21 wardens have the extra powers accredited to their role by Gwent Police last year.

Newport council said the remaining eight officers were currently being trained.

Councillor David Fouweather told a meeting of the council: "This is totally unacceptable. The citizens of Newport will feel badly let down when they call a warden and they get someone who is not fully accredited.

"They want someone with the full powers. We need to give staff the necessary training for their job."

Councillor Ray Truman, cabinet member for community safety, replied: "It's a training issue and we will be training them."

A Newport council spokesman confirmed that only 13 out of the 21 wardens were accredited. The spokesman added: "The remaining staff are still undergoing the training and evaluation process to ensure they have the right levels of experience before they are considered for accreditation.

"It is our policy to attempt to ensure that at least one accredited warden is on each patrol in the city. Newport city council's wardens are a valuable addition to community safety and act as both reassurance to the community and deterrent to offenders."

The accreditation means that community safety wardens will have the power to issue fixed penalty notices for a range of offences and request names and addresses of people acting in an anti-social manner.

They will also have confiscation powers and some powers in relations to vehicles.

The eight unqualified officers are currently undergoing training including health and safety, first aid, legal background, anti-social behaviour training and fixed penalty training.

Newport council has had to comply with strict criteria laid down by Gwent Police to achieve the accredited status, including stringent vetting of officers.