Why using private firms could help the Police get more bobbies on the beat



The BBC and Labour have been getting themselves in a lather over plans to ‘privatise’ the police service. On the surface, it was the perfect story for these two pro-big state, anti-cuts cheerleaders.



Here were two forces, which have to reduce their budgets sharply in coming years, offering contracts to private sector companies to take over some duties normally done by the police.



Privatisation: West Midlands and Surrey Police are considering offering contracts to private security firms such as G4S

Not only could Labour and the BBC blame the ‘savage cuts’ for the changes being proposed by West Midlands and Surrey. Labour could also build on the fear of the private sector which the party has been busy whipping-up over the government’s NHS reforms.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper talked of crossing a line which would put ‘public trust or the principles of impartial British policing at risk'.



Criticism: Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the proposals would put British policing at risk'

She added: ‘The police have confirmed that they are pursuing these contracts as a result of the financial pressures they face. Yet the possibility of including the management of high-risk individuals, patrolling public places or pursuing criminal investigations in large private sector contracts rather than core professional policing raises very serious concerns.’



So far, so scary. The police were going to stop walking the streets (not that they do much of that already), and hand over responsibility for keeping us safe to the security guards we normally see loitering outside shopping centres.



Except it’s not true.



As Surrey Chief Constable Lynne Owens says: ‘Any suggestion that a private sector company will patrol the streets of Surrey is simply nonsense. It would be no more acceptable to the public than it would be to me.’



Nor will private firms be making any arrests. That power rests with sworn officers only – and so it should.



Rather, what is being suggested is that private firms take charge of what Sir Iain Blair, the ex-Met Commissioner, calls the ‘repetitive’ tasks of policing.



These are likely to include guarding prisoners in custody, searching woodlands, and preparing routine witness statements.



More intriguing is the idea that private firms could help to provide intelligence on murder inquiries.



But if they offer a fresh perspective, surely that shouldn’t be considered a problem?



What the public wants, according to survey upon survey, is to see more fully-trained officers on the street.



The most recent British Crime Survey found one in every four people say they have never seen a police officer or even a controversial ‘Blunkett bobbie’ walking the beat.

