How long til privately run neighbourhood police become the norm?

[hotmumshit]

They already exist in some places and use private prosecutions to uphold their values

I personally think its morally wrong, but since when does that matter

I think that home security firms will start providing access to them as part of their services

Welcome to hell

It’s already the norm in affluent areas such as parts of the Home Counties, parts of London and The Wirral etc. Rich people will buy security services. The norm for ordinary people very unlikely.

I can't see a need for it round here. Rich people have gated estates and security all over the place. It will never be the norm as it costs lots of money.

You know they don't have the powers the Police have. Private security is a deterrent (in this country).
https://www.get-licensed.co.uk/get-daily/what-security-guards-can-cant-do/#h-the-role-of-a-security-guard-a-brief-overview

Policing isn't fit for purpose. And it never will be. The reason is that it's really three government departments, not one. So you can't "fix" one without overwhelming the others. If the police were sorted, no lack of resources, training or equipment, the resulting increase in prosecutions would swamp the courts, if you fixed the courts as well, the resulting increase in prisoners would swamp the prison system. This is why "police reform" is impossible, and any politician who claims they will do it is lying.

Why is it morally wrong? It's just a paid service so you can live peacefully. I'd consider it since I found some scumbag trying to look into our garage.

We've still got quite a way to fall yet.

Yeah the fact that you think it's morally wrong doesn't matter so at least you've got that right. Of all the things that really ARE morally wrong this is so far down the list it doesn't even register.
And what do you mean 'use private security to uphold their values'? What does this mean? What 'values' can be upheld by private security?

I’ve never seen this in the UK. Is it common? How does it even come about, do all the neighbours on a street club together?

The village next to me has it but it’s a relatively new purpose built village and every house has to pay service charges which goes towards public area upkeep and security. There is always a security car patrolling about. 24/7 .

I remember when Simon Cowell got burgled there was some discussion about a private security firm which patrolled the neighbourhood there, obviously the residents pay for this. I assume that’s optional. No idea what happens if they see someone break into No 8 but No 8 has refused to join in.

Then some Jewish areas have private security patrolling I believe. I’ve driven through the Jewish part of Manchester and seen security patrols from the Community Security Trust.

I wish I thought the same.

successive governments have thrown money at pointless stuff, but they won’t pay for proper policing. It’s awful.

pp said this “I remember when Simon Cowell got burgled there was some discussion about a private security firm which patrolled the neighbourhood there, obviously the residents pay for this. I assume that’s optional. No idea what happens if they see someone break into No 8 but No 8 has refused to join in.”

i’m guessing they ring the police in that situation! Or maybe they’d consider it good business to go and have a look themselves as well I don’t know…. Legally they won’t have permission to go and have a look on that land I suppose.

I dunno, I think France is going to have another "hold my beer" moment that might give us a bit of a slap in the face and pull us back from the abyss.

There has been an increase in anti-social behaviour in our small town since they closed our police station. Ideally I would like the police back, but as that isnt going to happen I wouldn't mind if the town council organised a private security firm to patrol round the town. But that won't happen either because it would have to be a voluntary contribution to pay for it, and I am fairly sure most people wouldn't pay. So the local youth (just a few, not the majority) will continue to graffiti the walls, kill the ducks in the park and race round on electric bikes causing all sorts of so far, minor accidents, with impunity.

It’s very rare. The only ones I know of local to me are places like St George’s Hill and the Wentworth Estate - basically massive gated private estates for multimillionaires where the security is paid for as part of the service charge.

I find private prosecutions morally wrong - justice should be managed by only one body and that is the state imo

It's very common for private security firms to "patrol" commercial premises, not just by a permanent presence on large sites, but they also have mobile patrols which tour various different/smaller commercial sites. Not a big leap to see them starting to include domestic premises/areas on their mobile patrols.

I hate crime and understand the need for them - agree with @ThePeppyOpalScroller that nothing will change as its all shit

But people doing their own policing!? That's a disaster waiting to happen, and these bodies won't have the police anti bias training, or any police training or regulation

Still its inevitable when the actual police are shit, there are no prison spaces and the court system is overrun

Will it be the same as medical care I wonder - if you've paid for the good security, you'll be looked after and if you cant afford to, sod you?

But they ultimately have to go through the CPS.

It’s not like they have access to a private court or anything.

it’s like bringing a private prosecution for stalking. If the police can’t or won’t handle it, then you might have to resort to private prosecution.

A local two-bit crime family tried doing a voluntary police service on my nearest council estate a few years back. Then they started asking for protection money and doling out their own punishments. The local police force had to come down very hard on it to stamp it out. There’s a fine line between a private police service and gangsters.

If the police are not adequately funded then private security is the answer.
I don’t see a problem with it.

That’s interesting

I had thought that these people are handing over a lot of trust, I mean people will have a license to actually see what the regular movements are on the street, but I don’t know anything about how private security staff vetted.

This is exactly my thinking.

I imagine the types similar to the 'pedophile hunters' would be attracted to such a role.

Not necessarily if the additional police resourcing focused on prevention.

That’s exactly it though isn’t it? The fact that people are feeling they have to do this shows that the state has failed.

Unlike another poster, I don’t think we have got that far to fall and it really worries me.

something I do wonder about with private homes… isn’t a ring doorbell camera etc set up enough? Maybe not because if thieves will cover their faces. But people can’t be paying private security 24/7 can they?

I don't think they do go through the cps you know

That’s what’s happening on the richest estate in Harpenden.