Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the advent of Britain's first Private Police Force is a terrifying prospect?

62 replies

AjasLipstick · 08/05/2018 13:57

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/britains-first-private-police-force-to-go-nationwide-after-success-in-londons-wealthiest-a3832321.html

Britain’s first private police force is set to be rolled out across the nation following its success in three of London’s wealthiest neighbourhoods.

The force, called My Local Bobby, makes citizens arrests and can gather evidence to launch private prosecutions.

Clients who pay up to £200-a-month are given a direct line to a local officer, who they can also track on an iPad, and enjoy a meet-and-greet service from Tube stations or cars.

It's a scary prospect...whoever is in charge of them...ie. paying them, could be in a very powerful position....or a very vulnerable one.

OP posts:
DGRossetti · 08/05/2018 15:56

Even a security firm should only be able to do that off private property.

Of course.

Within the law.

I look forward to the allegations of excessive force (aka "assault") against these people. Plus civil claims for damage to property.

I also look forward to clips on YouTube where these people threaten people filming them with some vague legalese they heard on a mates Facebook feed once.

SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 08/05/2018 16:12

What next :- a private Fire Service?

DGRossetti · 08/05/2018 16:16

What next :- a private Fire Service?

how do you think they started ?

Lonecatwithkitten · 08/05/2018 16:19

Private police forces were around long before state police existed. Many, many towns had Societies for the apprehension and detention of felons. So still exist, but currently do not operate as forces.

Stirner · 08/05/2018 16:20

The free market provides.

SteamTrainsRealAleandOpenFires · 08/05/2018 16:33

Burlington Arcade Beadles were the 1st private police force in 1819

Kamma89 · 08/05/2018 19:37

This is not good. Who will oversee them to make sure they don't discriminate? Starve the state of resources & f**k anyone who can't afford a better private alternative. Just like in health care. The private sector was struggling post Labour investment in NHS as the NHS performed so well. Tories come in, cut to the bone and surprise surprise the private sector is on the up again...disgraceful

GladAllOver · 08/05/2018 19:45

This is not good. Who will oversee them to make sure they don't discriminate?

How can they discriminate? They have no power or authority to apply discriminately.

They can't tell anyone to do anything, or not do anything, that you can tell.

I really, really can't get worked up about this.

Metoodear · 08/05/2018 19:50

Jewish people have had this for years

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 08/05/2018 23:34

Glad they could certainly act under the instructions of those paying them to "clear" areas where people don't want certain types to be.

OP posts:
PaintedHorizons · 09/05/2018 00:18

Actually I can see why it has come to this though - and will continue. The police won't deal with stuff that they deem unimportant or that they don't have resources to deal with so if you are burgled, assaulted, have your bike nicked or your car broken into - forget it - you are just supposed to put up with it.

MexicanBob · 09/05/2018 00:45

How do they differ from security guards/doorman/bouncers? t's a non-issue

MexicanBob · 09/05/2018 00:46

It's a non-issue.

MexicanBob · 09/05/2018 00:49

They could only "clear" areas if those paying them owned the area concerned and, legally, the owners would have the right to order off anyone they didn't want on their land anyway.

Mountainsoutofmolehills · 09/05/2018 03:34

Eric Prince will be involved. Mark my words. he founded Blackwater, and is the brother of Betsy deVos the republican Minister for Education who just loves guns.

jaffaJackie · 09/05/2018 05:24

What legal trouble do you think you'd get in cory if you tried to move a drunk on from your street?

I don't find the prospect of this scary.

I live on a private street of 18 houses with a security guard at the entrance. I can afford it and like it. As with this firm mentioned, he has no more powers than any other citizen.

Original poster
AjasLipstick · 09/05/2018 05:37

MexicanBob considering that large swathes of central London are now owned by foreign investors, that's rather worrying no?

There are already reports of "security guards" who are heavy handed, moving people away from what appear to be open, common ground within the city...places which appear to be simply "squares" of buildings in the traditional Georgian style.

OP posts:
WheelyCote · 09/05/2018 06:15

If it's anything like the nhs....the private police force will have a never ending list of what they won't do because the private company can't cover its insurance premiums...leaving the surrounding police forces to pick up the slack.

Hope it doesn't catch hold

bananafish81 · 09/05/2018 07:37

How is this different to Shomrim?

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 09/05/2018 09:24

They could only "clear" areas if those paying them owned the area concerned and, legally, the owners would have the right to order off anyone they didn't want on their land anyway.

And even then, if someone refused to leave, they can’t physically force them. Well they can, but not with any legal authority. They have to call the actual police.

GladAllOver · 09/05/2018 10:34

Gladthey could certainly act under the instructions of those paying them to "clear" areas where people don't want certain types to be.

What part of 'they have no authority' don't you understand?

They are not police, and they cannot move anyone if they don't want to be moved.
The most they could do is call the police if someone was being a nuisance, and then wait for a response the same as any other caller.

You can call these people 'Private Police' as many times as you like, but they are no such thing and can't claim to be.

UpstartCrow · 09/05/2018 10:36

Yes this is worrying.
As for 'they can't do that', what happens when there is no one to witness it can be very different from what is supposed to happen.

Phosphorus · 09/05/2018 11:01

Well yes Upstart as illustrated by the behaviour of the actual police force at times.

The security guys mentioned by the OP are just a sop for people with more money than sense.

They have no power at all, beyond phoning the police like everyone else. And finding they'll never attend. Grin

GladAllOver · 09/05/2018 11:24

As for 'they can't do that', what happens when there is no one to witness it can be very different from what is supposed to happen.

Just like burglars or rapists wandering the streets at night, looking for a victim. That's not "supposed to happen" either, but they can do what they like if no-one is there "to witness it".

Why is it different for someone trying to deter crimes, by being there as a potential witness?

ToadOfSadness · 09/05/2018 11:27

Round here people pay for private security patrols because of the amount of burglary and other crime, it is to deter the thieving bastards, so assume this would hopefully do the same thing.

We have been experiencing a crime wave since the offenders from neighbouring areas have been shunted out into ours to improve crime figures for the other areas, including knife crime, robberies in shops and a death. I don't blame people wanting to protect themselves if the Police are not available any more to do their job.

Swipe left for the next trending thread