Street wardens in Oxford have come under fire from councillors who claim they are a cheap substitute for police officers and spend too much time on coffee breaks.

Members of the city council's community scrutiny committee questioned the success of the service after hearing from Steve Kilsby, the council's neighbourhood services manager responsible for street wardens in Oxford.

Maureen Christian, Labour city councillor for Headington Hill and Northway, questioned how well the wardens were supervised.

She said: "I have no direct experience but have heard they spend a lot of time drinking coffee."

Mr Kilsby admitted there had been problems in the past but they had been resolved. He said: "I am confident that is not happening any more. There is no excessive tea drinking going on."

City councillor Claire Kent branded the scheme policing on the cheap.

She said: "This is crime prevention -- something the police used to do."

Mr Kilsby responded: "Wardens do a lot of work police no longer have to time to carry out. They do get involved in preventative stuff -- that is what they are there for."

City councillor Dee Sinclair asked at the meeting if the street wardens could work more closely with schools to crack down on truancy.

Mrs Sinclair, who works at Peers School in Littlemore, said: "Students are coming into school and we don't know they have antisocial behaviour orders (Asbos). I would like to see a pro-active role with street wardens."

Mr Kilsby welcomed the suggestion and said he would get in touch with the school's headteacher.

City councillor Tony Brett asked how wardens could help with the problem of Mini Motos, particularly in east Oxford.

Last month, the Oxford Mail reported that residents in Blackbird Leys were being terrorised by youths riding the mini motorbikes -- it is illegal to drive the petrol-powered bikes on the roads.

Mr Kilsby said wardens were monitoring the situation and reporting trouble to police.

He added: "I have been to Blackbird Leys and the police are taking our calls seriously. It is a plague."

Despite the criticism, Mr Kilsby said wardens had proved a success. He said: "There has been a reduction in certain types of crime, particularly in Blackbird Leys."

Val Johnson, business manager for the council's neighbourhood renewal department, said street wardens played a vital role.

She said: "They work with the local community to prevent crime and regularly patrol the streets.

"We are expanding the scheme to other areas."

Vicky Evans, Oxford police spokesman, said wardens were the responsibility of the city council but added: "They are part of the extended police family and provide a visible presence on the street."