Police boss to fund more private security patrols

Police and crime commissioner (PCC) Rupert Matthews has set out plans to deploy private security patrols in towns across Leicestershire and Rutland.

Matthews said he wanted to recruit between 20 and 30 street marshals from private security firms as part of a scheme, costing about £2m, aimed at preventing crimes like shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

The Reform UK commissioner told the BBC the marshals would not have any powers but would be a "visible and uniformed" presence.

The Leicestershire Police Federation said it was "entirely against" the use of private security and felt the PCC's funding should be spent on police officers rather than security staff.

Matthews said he had decided to take the project forward following a Home Office-funded trial scheme in Melton last year where two private security guards patrolled the town centre.

"It worked really well in Melton Mowbray where businesses and shoppers told me they felt much safer - and that is the aim," he said.

"They will not have police powers. The police are there to arrest criminals and suspects and get them to court.

"These guys will be a visible presence, a uniformed presence, to diffuse trouble before it starts.

"They are trained in conflict resolution and in calming people down if they are angry.

"It's not replacing police officers who do an entirely different job. The police enforce the law. Street marshals are about stopping opportunist crime by being a deterrent."

Matthews said his office was in the "early stages" of drawing up contracts that security companies could bid for.

"If all goes swimmingly, I'd like to have the patrols in place by November," he said.

"But I think it will more likely be in January."

Matthews said he had enough government funding for the scheme to run for 18 months.

Matthews said the new marshals would not challenge criminals but would be equipped with protective clothing and body-worn CCTV to collect evidence for the police.

Only firms that use staff registered with the government's Security Industry Authority (SIA) would be used to provide marshals, he added.

Melton, Oakham, Uppingham, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Ashby, Coalville, and Loughborough, as well as some larger villages, would get patrols according to the PCC.

"Where we deploy them will depend on the need and crime and anti-social behaviour figures," Matthews added.

Andy Spence, chairman of the Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "We heard about this in February.

"We are against it entirely. It is the job of police officers and PCSOs to deal with shop crime. These new marshals won't have the powers to do anything.

"When they had them in Melton, we know whenever they encountered criminals they tended just to call the police.

"We have concerns about the safety of the public and the security staff.

"We don't believe the PCC should be giving money to private firms and taking money out of the police budget.

"He should use these millions to recruit police officers, PCSOs, or special officers who do have powers of arrest and access to police information systems."

Street security patrols, funded from a government grant, were introduced in Loughborough last year.

On Wednesday, Charnwood Borough Council said it and the town's business improvement district (BID) would be spending £30,000 to extend the scheme.

Matthews said he would talk to councils to try to avoid duplication of patrols.

Leicestershire Police's Temporary Chief Constable David Sandall said: "It is important any crime prevention initiative is based on informed and reliable research, is evidence-based and data-led.

"The success of any initiative also requires strong partnership work with partners and communities affected to ensure an effective, sustainable and impactive outcome.

"The police and crime commissioner receives all funding into Leicestershire for policing and crime prevention, and any decision on how this is invested is made by the police and crime commissioner."

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