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

In wealthy areas

In poorer areas, no imo 🥺

That's nonsense and makes no sense.

How would a security guard know if I am a "respectable married woman" whatever that means 🙄or a working class single mum?

As it happens I am a working class single mum, with two degrees and a profession. Where would I sit in your equation?

I know a number of married women who definitely are not respectable, despite the Mercedes coupes and the designer handbags.

In this era of universal CCTV amd phone cameras, no security guard is going to take issue with anyone as long as they are polite, well behaved, sober and not trespassing on private property. Not if he wants to keep his job anyway. Paid security guards in the UK must be trained and certified to a professional standard, and have no criminal record. It's not like the US where any idiot in a uniform has a gun and a night stick.

Tbh- as someone who is familiar with private security - I am certain that our patrols would view a black man walking around the village suspiciously and may well challenge him. White men would be assumed to have legitimate business- unless they looked poor or dishevelled.

that said, if I was challenged by a private security guard I’d tell them to go fuck themselves, but other people may mistake them for someone with authority

I dont think it makes no sense at all

The same discrimination minorities have experienced from the police force, and fought and protested against, will absolutely be present in private security firms

Who, since they would be hired by the neighbours and would be familiar with the neighbours - would have zero trouble discriminating against

Good for you that you cant imagine such a scenario though - not all of us are as privileged

That’s not true. They will literally pester and harass you regardless of your class.

As I said my father as a white man 70yo man, with a very clearly upper middle class British accent was harassed repeatedly on his own street.

Likewise I have been followed round the estate in a new yet not flashy pretty standard car such as a mini or a Volvo. Again white, female professional looking.

It’s hard to wrap your head around it. But when you think this firm is hired to protect property, which is mainly empty. So any person. Whether you live there or not is kind of irrelevant to them. That’s not their job. Their aim is to make it an uncomfortable and hostile environment to deter people from being there. And that’s what they do.

These are just security guards. They’re paid £13 an hour. It’s highly unlikely they take the time or care to judge what a “upper class accent” is - in fact I’d hazard a guess most don’t have a clue what this is.

as long as it’s a public road they have no right to hassle anyone, and should be reported to the real police if they do.

Sorry you've had a bad experience

For someone of the group I previously mentioned, this would be even worse.

Its awful all around, honestly

They really are not just security guards

These people weild power and reckon they're police honestly

This one security guard in my local asda was watching inspirational videos about being a security guard and protecting the community

They're nuts

It’s a private estate. I don’t know what they are paid but they very much ‘care’ to be powertripping dickheads.

OP- thank you for acknowledging how awful it is to live like that. But I also have no idea why you think being lower class or coloured makes the experience worse. It’s exactly the same.

They are just security guards though. That’s what you pay for. What else could they be

I don’t get this- doesn’t your dad actually pay for them then? Why on earth would he allow them to get away with harassing him?

Men with too much power!

Its not, honestly. I agree that your experience is fucking awful. But that's every security guard for the rest of us - getting followed round sainsburys when I am shopping with dd

The same guy, the same sainsburys, for years

Being insulted by the pharmacist for not working

Just relentless

They have no power, I guess that’s the point. I agree people like security guards and bouncers are often little hitlers but those providing private security for the houses on public roads have no power. To be honest they don’t really on private roads

I think youre thinking in terms of the law and theory

In practice these men can make life hell

They can intimidate, bully, and overpolice to make people uncomfortable

They're beholden to the persons on the street with the most money. And someone on the street with less money or who doesn't fall in line, is in trouble

the experience will be worse because if you’re black, or wearing certain clothing these security guards will jump to “criminal” much quicker than if you’re white and well spoken.

same as black people will be more likely to be stop searched, or followed by security in a shop. Same as if you’re dressed “chavvy” and look like someones idea of a criminal.

if you’re white and appear educated/upper class it’s going to be far easier to talk your way out of a situation. If you speak up you won’t be seen as mouthy or “talking back”

come on, surely you must know white privilege exists?

No my parents don’t pay. They can’t force them to pay for security they don’t want.

Its seems they can’t also stop people paying for security they do want.

As I said there was a big to do about all this and legal advice was taken on both sides. The conclusion to that was it’s private land so everyone can do what they want, but they can’t harass or disturb people. Which I would argue they do - but that’s a court issue and everyone’s just going to spend a lot of money arguing that.

It’s been a number of years now and things have calmed down somewhat since the floodlight peace treaty. The residents just oppose with small passive agressive acts of defiance when they are pissed off enough, rant on the estate WhatsApp and then go to bed to live another day.

Sure it’s defo a more unique experience that white privileged aren’t used to. But that’s what I am trying to say… here that didn’t matter.

Which is mind blowing that a resident could be harassed in their own street - but when you think about the context it makes sense.

They are hired to protect property. Mainly empty property. Who’s a threat to that - people. They don’t care which people.

So this is why he's being harassed!

They would harass someone else for no reason is my point

Still, its inexcusable. Vile people with too much power, and this is what is going to happen all over.

No he’s not harassed for not paying. Most of the estate don’t pay. It’s mainly the people who don’t live there who pay ! It’s all very odd.

Yes fair point- we probably benefit from the village security but don’t pay for it in our street

But yes I do agree with that OP.

It is a battle of wealth at the end of the day.