Private police force growing

LONDON - British ministers are overseeing the growth of an army of private police officers, it is claimed.

Figures released by the Home Office show that more than 1600 council employees and other civilians, including dog wardens, park keepers and security guards, now have the power to police communities.

In the past 12 months, under the tenure of home secretaries Jacqui Smith and Alan Johnson, there has been a 20 per cent increase in the number of people who have been given the responsibilities.

And the rapid growth in the army of civilians able to impose fines, confiscate property and demand names and addresses has been matched by an increasing use of private security companies to help police in their investigations.

Yesterday, human rights groups attacked the "privatisation of policing" as a worrying erosion of civil liberties and one senior police officer said he was unhappy about the role of private security companies in the policing of public demonstrations.

Peter Fahy, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police said that he "did not believe there is a role for the private sector in the policing of public spaces".

His comment follows reports that G4S, a private security company, has provided mobile custody cells and detention officers at two recent environmental demonstrations.

Shami Chakrabarti, the director of Liberty, said: "The British public trusts constables to keep the peace and uphold the rule of law. They don't expect such a sacred trust to be sub-contracted to the lowest bidder."

The number of civilians wearing a special badge and a uniform approved by the local chief constable has risen 1667. The 30 "accredited" powers include the issuing of a fixed penalty notice for riding a bicycle on a footpath, for littering and to parents of truants.

An accredited civilian also has powers to deal with anti-social behaviour, which include requiring a person to stop drinking in a public place and confiscating alcohol.

- INDEPENDENT