Private Security Use Surges In UK

Blue Lights for Sale: The Rise of Private Patrols on Britain's Richest Streets

A vehicle travels through Hertfordshire's lush, green countryside. Past the window, grand homes with pristine gardens and neatly sculpted hedges are visible. It presents an idyllic English scene. This region, however, is at the centre of a contentious new method for tackling criminal activity.

The driver is a security professional from a private enterprise. His vehicle has a distinct blue and yellow striped design, making it resemble an official patrol car. The interior is equipped with communication gear, medical supplies, and a highly trained Belgian Malinois. The guard is outfitted with protective body armour and carries restraints.

Yet, he takes care to explain his position. A person with a sharp eye, he notes, would spot the subtle variations in markings that differentiate his car from a state-run vehicle. He confirms the likeness is intentional. The goal is for would-be wrongdoers to see the car from afar and change their minds, choosing to find a less protected area. This approach is central to a burgeoning UK industry.

The New Neighbourhood Watch

This security professional is on the payroll of Blueline Security, one of several companies offering 'private policing' that have appeared recently. Since 2019, it has operated mainly in affluent southern English communities. For a price, its staff, often with prior police or military experience, patrol local villages, searching for home invaders and vehicle thieves. The man at the wheel, for instance, served for fourteen years as a police officer in a past career.

Comparable enterprises have started operating throughout the United Kingdom. One such firm, My Local Bobby, which was established in 2016, now has a staff of nearly 150 security personnel and maintains its own collection of cars. These companies present their services as a solution to a perceived shortfall in state provisions. Clients frequently cite a lack of faith in the official police's capacity to arrive quickly at emergency situations within their local communities. For residents with the financial means, these private services are called a "lifeline."

This development, however, faces strong criticism. For some, it represents an alarming progression toward a nation where personal wealth determines one's level of police protection. Someone who once held a high-ranking post at the Metropolitan Police expressed unease about the development of a society with two levels of justice. As the strain on official police increases, the discussion becomes more heated. Does a space exist for private companies to assist, or do these paid-for patrols erode the boundary separating law enforcement and commercial gain?

A Response to a Service Gap

The firms that provide these private security options report a steep increase in interest. This development is in line with wider changes in Britain's security sector. Research has shown that the sector for private security saw considerable expansion in the period from 2008 to 2021. This boom covered both a rise in financial turnover and in the quantity of security personnel with licenses.

At the same time, official figures show a changeable police headcount. The total of official police in England and Wales generally decreased after 2009, reaching a nadir of approximately 122,000 during 2017. While these numbers have climbed back up, some regional forces are still experiencing reductions.

Brunel University's Dr Matteo Pazzona characterises this as a movement in policing, away from a public model and toward a private one. While the majority of security personnel are employed in retail and business environments, his findings also show a greater demand for the kind of residential work these firms provide. A past Detective Chief Inspector from the Metropolitan Police, David Spencer, posits that these companies could be addressing the shortfalls of official law enforcement. Spencer, who currently leads the crime and justice division for the Policy Exchange think tank, says it is logical that individuals with money would deploy it to safeguard their loved ones if they believe that law enforcement is not performing well.

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Confidence in Policing Wanes

Modern policing in Britain is built on tenets that Sir Robert Peel established in the nineteenth century. As home secretary at the time, he founded the Metropolitan Police in London, a modern service paid for by general taxation. Central to his philosophy was the fair treatment of all individuals, irrespective of financial status, and a system of policing reliant on community trust. Today, some express anxiety that this trust is being damaged.

Many break-ins and vehicle thefts are never resolved. Recent polling has indicated that over half of people across Great Britain possess little to no belief in their regional police's ability to handle crime. This percentage marks a significant rise from a few years ago. Studies have also pointed to low public faith in the capacity of police to respond swiftly and offer sufficient support after an incident is reported.

The official inspector of police for the government, Andy Cooke, stated in 2023 how public trust in policing is in a precarious state. David Spencer notes that the workload for police officers has grown due to intricate offenses like internet fraud and an increased emphasis on matters once thought of as private, such as domestic violence. He contends that funding has not matched this escalating workload, which accounts for the shift toward private security answers.

The Price of Peace of Mind

For some homeowners, choosing to contract private security follows a direct encounter with crime. Laura, a person living in the Hertfordshire countryside, signed up following a recent string of home invasions nearby. Her own surveillance camera recorded a group of individuals with their faces covered on her property. They departed after noticing the camera. The event led to a neighbourhood gathering where about 40 homes made a collective decision to sign up with a private security company.

Every participating home contributes an annual fee of £1,500 for routine patrols and the option to contact a security professional whenever needed. Laura shared her scepticism that the state police would get there promptly in an emergency. The main purpose of these private patrols is less about catching offenders and more about serving as a powerful deterrent. Their legal powers are identical to those of any ordinary citizen.

Jamie Strickland, who started Blueline and is a military veteran, insists his company is not a substitute for the police. He suggests that even a perfectly-funded law enforcement agency would find it difficult to maintain a constant presence in isolated parts of the countryside. The National Police Chiefs' Council, however, maintains a firm commitment to responding to the locations of offenses. They have said private companies must not act as a replacement or backup for police, and that it is the job of qualified officers to step in after an offense has been committed.

A System of Two Tiers?

The growth of patrols for hire brings up deep issues of justice and fairness. The primary apprehension is the risk of a discriminatory system where affluent people get superior safeguarding against criminal activity. Parm Sandhu, who previously served as a chief superintendent for the Metropolitan Police, shares this worry. Sandhu left the service in 2019 and subsequently authored a book detailing her time there; she is a prominent critic.

She points out that if you reside in public housing, you lack the funds for this kind of policing. She asks if this suggests you are more deserving of being robbed, attacked, or assaulted, before stating that you absolutely are not. For Sandhu, the link between a declining police presence and the expanding private security sector points to a deep-rooted issue in the current framework.

Andy, who also lives in Hertfordshire and uses a private security company, holds a different view. He recognises he is fortunate to be able to pay the yearly £1,500 charge. He contends that the service is not only for the very rich. He felt the outlay was worthwhile for his family's security after viewing surveillance videos of local intrusions. This view underlines the hard decisions confronting worried property owners.

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The Blurring of the Blue Line

Additional uncertainties surround the practice. Ms Sandhu highlights that the law enforcement-style look of certain security companies could be a source of confusion. She cautions that a person who is intoxicated by substances or drink might look up and mistake a private operative for a police officer. Maintaining a clear visual separation between the two is vital.

There is a danger, she implies, that ordinary people could seek guidance from these guards, thinking they are engaging with police officers. This brings up the issue of what powers these private guards actually have. The firms are adamant that their personnel can only execute a "citizen's arrest," a right which any private individual can exercise.

This authority is fraught with considerable risk. According to the legal framework in England and Wales, a citizen's arrest can only be used for a more serious 'indictable' crime—an offense that would be handled by the Crown Court. The power is not applicable to less severe 'summary' offenses. In a fast-moving situation, it can be hard for a security professional to tell the difference, and an incorrect judgement could see the guard facing legal trouble.

Accountability and Regulation

A significant disparity exists in the oversight mechanisms for public and private forces. The Inspectorate of Constabulary, a government body, carries out strict reviews of police services. A separate regulatory body looks into major allegations made against officers. In comparison, mechanisms to hold private companies answerable are less developed. The primary consequence they face is the withdrawal of their licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

The SIA is the autonomous organisation tasked with overseeing the private security sector in the United Kingdom under the Private Security Industry Act of 2001. Its responsibilities cover the mandatory licensing of individuals and the administration of a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme. To receive a license, an individual must be at least 18, possess a relevant credential, and undergo a criminal history check.

However, Martin Gill, who is a professor of criminology, observes that in places like shopping malls, private security personnel already conduct most of the law enforcement duties and largely do it well. He proposes that when a company starts working within a neighbourhood, the regional police service ought to establish contact proactively to create unambiguous channels for communication and duties.

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An Uneasy Partnership

The dynamic between private security companies and official police services has changed over time. David McKelvey, who started My Local Bobby, reports that after a challenging initial phase, he currently enjoys a positive rapport with police departments. He asserts that law enforcement is starting to recognise the advantages of his company's offerings. McKelvey supports deeper cooperation, especially with sharing intelligence.

He maintains that this kind of information is frequently crucial for his guards to carry out their duties well. The College of Policing, however, adopts a wary position. It has specified that law enforcement services should only distribute intelligence in specific, highly controlled situations. This official caution shows the persistent legal and moral difficulties of these collaborations.

Talks about working together are increasing. Within the private sector, some perceive a chance to make their function more official. Jason Towse of Mitie, a major security corporation, has verified that talks have started with municipal authorities regarding how private companies can operate alongside police. This points to a possible future where "complementary policing" is more widespread, with private entities broadening the scope of under-resourced public services.

The View from the Patrol Car

The day-to-day of private patrol work is frequently less exciting than one might imagine. During a standard patrol, a guard could get a call about a horse roaming on a road. He is able to drive to the location and guide the creature back to its pasture. This kind of task offers a valuable benefit to the neighbourhood, handling small problems that police might lack the capacity to deal with right away.

The role's constraints, however, are an ever-present factor. The very same guard could later observe a car he thinks is involved in a narcotics transaction. This scenario creates a difficult choice. Operating a vehicle while intoxicated by drugs is a summary crime. The security professional lacks the authority to take action. His sole option is to remain in his vehicle, watch, and contact the official authorities.

This situation illustrates the central contradiction in this new form of security. While it provides a comforting presence and may discourage certain criminal acts, it functions within a legal ambiguity. The guards are not state officers. They do not have the same training, legal power, or oversight as official law enforcement. Their ability to act is ultimately limited by these constraints, making them dependent on the same police service their customers feel is no longer adequate.

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The Broader Context of Justice

The discussion around private patrols is an element of a larger national conversation about justice and state-run services. The Policy Exchange think tank has released analyses on ideas such as "Two-Tier Justice," investigating the notion that not all individuals encounter the justice system equally. These conversations consider whether police seem to enable certain protest movements while curbing others, which fosters a sense of "differential policing."

The legal framework also continues to change. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act of 2022 brought about major reforms, with new crimes and greater police powers. It stiffened penalties for assaults on first responders and for lethal driving incidents, while granting police new authority to oversee protests. Although these actions are designed to reinforce the state's power, they do not resolve the shortfalls in resources and trust that are driving the private security market.

The sector for private security is itself massive and expanding, with its revenue projected to be substantial. It has a workforce more than twice the size of the police. The price of these services fluctuates, from an hourly fee between £20 and £45 for a single security professional to daily charges of £500 or more for personal protection. For a large portion of the population, these prices are out of reach, widening the gap between those who can purchase additional security and those who cannot.

A Fork in the Road for British Policing

In the end, the proliferation of 'private bobbies' is a sign of more significant underlying movements. It shows a deep-seated lack of confidence in an essential public service and a readiness among people with the resources to find other options. David Spencer posits that the future of this model is contingent on the ability of the police to win back public faith. If that faith keeps declining, it appears unavoidable that more neighbourhoods will seek out private security solutions.

This direction, though, creates a more disjointed and unbalanced system of public safety. The approach directly opposes the Peelite concept of policing by public consent, which has been a pillar of UK justice for two centuries. The dilemma is clear: either reinvest in and overhaul public policing to serve the needs of every person, or consent to a future where safety is just another good, accessible to those with the financial means to buy it.

The car with the distinct striped markings carries on with its patrol through the peaceful, high-income streets. It offers a fix for some, but it poses a difficult problem for the nation. Its presence serves as a continual reminder of a system under pressure and the challenging decisions facing a country wrestling with the concept of justice for every citizen.