UK's first 'private police force' has caught over 400 of criminals
GETTY STOCK Britain's first 'private police force have caught over 400 criminals
The company offering this service is called TM Eye and is run by a former Metropolitan Police senior officer. They have a team of 60 investigators working around the country and have even captured suspects wanted for attempted murder and rape. TM Eye was founded in 2007 is filling a void left by struggling police forces who are unable to cope with rising crime figures and budget cuts. Co-founder Tony Nash, an ex-Metropolitan Police commander, said: “This is going back to Dixon of Dock Green to a degree. It’s what people want. “There is no substitute for going out and knocking on doors. But with the current state of finances, police are solving cases behind their desks and that has become the culture.
It’s about catching the bad guys and protecting the public, and we can help with that David McKelvey - TM Eye managing director
One of the services provided by TM Eye is called ‘My Local Bobby’, where residents can hire guards to patrol theirs streets for a fee of up to £200 a month. The 'bobby' can arrest suspects, investigate crimes and bring private prosecutions if necessary. Of the 403 successful criminal convictions the firms has had over the past two years, 43 people were jailed. The success of a private police force has raised fears that a two-tier system could be created, where only the wealthy will get protection from criminals.
GETTY Police forces are struggling to cope with crime amid budget cuts
Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said the rise of private detectives as a “staggering indictment” of the state of policing. He said: “Eventually there will be a two-tier system with the haves and the have-nots, and if you have money and live in a £20million house in Chelsea you can pay for private security.” “My concern would be, where is the public scrutiny if it goes wrong? “If they are allowed to go and do police’s job for them, that is a dangerous status quo.” TM Eye says it does not charge for its investigative services as it seeks instead to recoup costs from courts after offenders are convicted. The patrol teams are kitted out with surveillance technology that allows them to carry out undercover work and also provide evidence to help secure convictions.
GETTY There are fears that a two-tier system could be created