The families paying £1,500 for 'private bobbies' to police their homes

Private policing firms like Blueline Security are offering services in wealthy areas of England where ex-police and ex-army personnel patrol communities for a fee, responding to concerns about police response times and trust. The rise of private security services has been accompanied by a decline in real police numbers in England and Wales, leading to a debate about the impact of this trend on public safety and access to law enforcement. Questions about two-tiered policing, accountability, and the role of private firms in law enforcement continue to be raised as these services grow in popularity.