Police Information

Leave Policing to the Police

Mon, May 07, 2001

Source: Police Federation

Police Federation chairman opposes private intervention in UK policing

 

Law enforcement and patrolling are duties for the police and not the profit-driven private security industry, says the Chairman of the Police Federation.

The message was clearly spelled out by Fred Broughton when he addressed a police meeting in Lancashire (29 March) opposing some of the Government's proposals for police reform outlined in its Criminal Justice: The Way Ahead document and its Private Security Bill.

"We are absolutely opposed to the proposal to link private security to policing in the field of law enforcement and patrolling," he said, arguing against experimental plans for beat officers to co-ordinate private security personnel to deliver community safety as originally suggested by Ian Blair, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.

"The White Paper says that such personnel would not generally have the powers of a constable. But note the interesting use of the word 'generally'. They would also be accountable to their own employer. They would, however, have the status of being police approved."

Mr Broughton said the intention to try and reassure the public that there is a powerful law and order presence on the streets may be laudable, but will prove unworkable.

"Do we believe that the troublemakers on the streets will become police compliant when Group 4 or Securicor looms into view, with not a Bobby in sight?" he asked.

"The problems that will inevitably arise will lead the Government to seek to give 'limited' police powers to private security staff. It has happened before.

"When traffic wardens first came on the streets, it was stressed that they had no police powers. Then it was decided they should be able to deal with some moving traffic offences. They were given the powers to do so. Just a little dent in police primacy, but a significant one.

"Mr Broughton criticised the document for fudging the constitutional issue of accountability in less than a sentence.

"It says that such employees will be accountable to their own employers for the actions they take towards members of the public. How can this be?

"How do you complain to the chairman of Securicor, and what redress will you get? And, if the overall responsibility for the scheme is vested in the police, how can it be that the chief officer is not ultimately accountable?

"And what chief officer wants to have private police officers operating under his or her patronage, but not his or her control? For these reasons, we say the proposal is a non-starter.

"Instead of employing the private security industry, Mr Broughton will advocate the Government makes better use of the Special Constabulary, many of whose members go on to become full time police officers.

"The historic distrust and suspicion of the Special Constabulary, which affected the attitude towards this body in previous eras, has largely disappeared," he said.

"There are, after all, hundreds if not thousands of members of the Police Federation who began their police career as a volunteer special constable.

"If the government, irrespective of its party colour, is prepared to honour its commitment to a fully staffed full-time police service, then we could look favourably on the increased use of special constables to provide a visible and empowered police presence on the streets"