R2OK!

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Private companies could take responsibility for investigating crimes, patrolling neighbourhoods and even detaining suspects under a radical privatisation plan being put forward by two of the largest police forces in the country.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/mar/02/police-privatisation-security-firms-crime

________________

Surrey is one of the forces considering this as could be introduced by early as November or later as February 2013.

There has been conflicted reports about this whether they will be on the front line or in the back office to free up real police officers. They will not have the power to arrest villains, but it does make you wonder if real policing is being pushed out the window.

ruddlescat · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 18010 Location: Near Chester

Whilst I'm not sure it's a very well thought out idea I think it's jumping quite a long way ahead to suggest that this proposal is going to lead to private police forces.

As I understand it the general plan is to contract out certain services within what will remain a public police force and this may be a good thing or a bad thing but I don't think it's very helpful to be talking in what seems to me a very sensationalist way Sad

_________________
Are you ready for a Ruddles?

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Our local police station has quite a few civvies working in the office, so I suppose they are just planning to extend the roles, and allow the real cops to get on with the detective work on the street.

We have community officers who can... well I'm not sure what they CAN do. They can't arrest, and not sure they've had self-defence training, I guess they can call a real policeman when in need....
_________________
-
John W

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 9:25 pm Post subject:

Yes, our local Police Station ( now closed to the public Rolling Eyes

) has employed civilians for many years now.
I understood from this morning's news it would mean some specialised operations carried out by private companies.. but then again, is SOCO staffed by "proper" Policemen or women? or are they just technicians?

I've always thought there may be a place for some kind of private input in traffic policing... speed monitoring, minor offences, vehicle defects etc.. I'd bet the Government's coffers would swell considerably if so.
If they did offer such positions, I'd volunteer! I hate speeders and BMW drivers.. Laughing

_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

They just need Simon Baker... all crimes solved- he's not even a Policeman ....just a consultant. Smile