Guns are not only a danger in themselves and linked to illegal drug markets, but there is a surrounding culture of silence and fear. From the May print magazine.
In London, a recent Brent Council public consultation exercise found that gun crime was the single most important crime issue identified by people. On behalf of the north London council, Group 4 Securicor provide an estate security warden service: an example of how private security companies can work with the public sector as part of what is commonly called the ‘extended policing family’. The wardens use foot and mobile patrols to provide a visible presence and response task force to residents in four areas. The scheme, which runs in accordance with guidelines from the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, part of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, covers about 13,800 homes, the responsibility of the Brent Housing Partnership. A recent visitor was David Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
BSIA Chief Executive David Dickinson said: “It is an excellent example of best practice in public/private security co-operation and is clearly making a valuable contribution to creating a safer community. This is ‘evidence on the ground’ of the wider policing family in action, delivering results.” How private security fits into the so-called ‘wider police family’ was the ; and while David Dickinsonwas Marketing Director of Group 4, before joining the BSIA in 2002, he developed a patrol and response service; and spoke on the subject of ‘the security officer in the 21st century’ at IFSEC 2000.
Douglas Greenwell, Marketing Director of Group 4 Securicor (UK Security) said: “Our community wardens have helped make many of the people of Brent feel safer and have been central in developing a better sense of community in the area. Indeed, a recent study revealed that 90 per cent of residents covered by the community warden service feel safer now than they did previously. This is another example of how highly trained and well regulated private security officers can work closely with the police and public sector to reduce crime, and the fear of crime, in the community.”
Statistics provided by the Metropolitan Police have shown a reduction in crime in the areas covered by the community warden service with a matching reduction in arson incidents. A residents’ survey by Brent council found:
72pc of residents feel safe going out after dark compared to 31pc of residents when asked the same question last year;
52pc of residents feel that crime and antisocial behaviour as decreased over the last 12 months;
82pc of residents felt that the warden service had reduced crime and that the patrols made them feel safer; and
81pc of residents felt more comfortable reporting a problem to the warden service rather than reporting the problem to other emergency services.
