Wardens employed to patrol an estate affected by anti social behaviour issues in Neasden are “running away and hiding” from problems which arise, it is claimed.

An emergency meeting at St Raphael’s Children’s Centre in Rainborough Close, attended by councillors, police, Brent Housing Partnership (BHP) and community representatives, was held last night to find out how residents felt about living on the estate and what concerns they had for their safety.

Saad Berjaoui, a football coach who lives on Besant Way, said: “The wardens that you have appointed are no good to us, no good point blank. Young people who cause a problem, the wardens run away from them and on a couple of occasions I saw them hiding. They are stronger if they show themselves but a fight was happening there and they were hiding.”

He was joined by others claiming wardens rarely walked within the estate and could often be found in their office “drinking tea and watching telly.”

Deborah Noel, anti social behaviour manager for BHP answered: “If you say they are not doing their job I need to know. Wardens not doing their job? I manage the contracts. Tomorrow I will be calling them to find out what’s going on here.”

St Raphael’s estate was rocked last month after an unmarked police car was shot at by youths in Mitchell Way.

In February two snatch robbers were jailed after knocking down a pensioner in Rainborough Close and ripping a gold chain from her neck.

Residents said it was just the tip of the iceberg in terms of muggings and burglaries and shootings increasing in the area with nothing being done when they report it.

They said they do not dare to walk in the unlit estate after dark, with one father saying he drives his children to and from school rather than risk them taking a five minute walk there.

The crowd reported groups of boys who sit on walls opposite houses intimidating the families inside because “they have nothing to do, there is nothing for them here anymore, and they are bored.”

Residents called for better dispersal orders on the estates, more CCTV cameras to deter crime, lit streets and a larger police presence.

Ms Noel added: “We have services to address all these issues. You need to report to us, you need to tell us, and that way we can start to build a picture and communicate with other teams.”

Martin Crank, head of neighbourhood and regeneration at BHP said: “We are going to ask residents what they want. Every household will receive a consultation survey asking how you feel on the estate - do you feel police are tackling the issues or are people reporting stuff.

“I want 1000 back, at least 3000 people live on St Raphs.

“It will give us a baseline on how to improve the estate then in six months we’ll come back and see if what has been talked about has happened or not.”