May clarifies privatisation position

Home Secretary Theresa May has promised not to extend any warranted police powers to the private sector, beyond those already achieved under the last government.

Addressing the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) in a letter last week, Mrs May said the Government has no intention of transfering core police functions to the private sector and that it will continue to be delivered by sworn officers.

She said: “Police officers alone will make arrests and lead investigations, and police officers will continue to patrol the streets and respond to incidents.”

However, she added that the Home Office’s support for forces exploring the potential value of using the private sector to support delivery of policing services remains unchanged.

“The private sector can help to support delivery of police services better and at lower cost, for example, improving technology used by officers and providing staff for control rooms and custody centres, releasing officers for frontline duties. Forces need to ensure they explore all potential future options for making savings and transforming services for the public, including working with the private sector,” explained Mrs May.

She also moved to calm concerns raised by Paul McKeever, chairman of the PFEW, over reports that Warwickshire Police will be recruiting G4S staff to carry out core policing functions, namely investigations.

Mr McKeever argued that while private security has its role to play this should not include frontline policing. He added that allowing ‘privatisation’ would damage the police service’s ability to deploy officers during national emergencies or large-scale events, pointing to the examples of the Olympics and last year’s riots.

Mrs May said: “As you know, police forces already spend around £3 billion a year with the private sector. Private sector contractors are supporting forces to free up officers to fight crime by working in partnership with them, not replacing the roles of officers.”