Follow up April 29th

the continuing story...
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Fears over the safety patrols

Concerns have been raised by police chiefs and councillors over the plans for a new private firm to patrol the streets of Whitley Bay at night.

As exclusively revealed in the news guardian last week Safety Patrol ltd. Is keen to get out and about in the town in a bid to help clampdown on anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.

Teams, all wearing high profile lime green jackets, would patrol the streets between 7pm and 3pm, reporting any incidents of graffiti, litter and disturbance while also providing first aid in advance of an ambulance and observing properties which have been left empty.

But Northumbria police and some members of North Tyneside council have raised concerns over the scheme, believed to be the
By David Sedgewick
 david.sedgewick@northestpress.co.uk

our partners to determine the best way ahead for the residents of North Tyneside."

Coun Micheal McIntyre, a Whitley Bay ward councillor, is keen to meet with bosses at the company to discuss how they will work in partnership with the local authority.

He said: "The council is not necessarily against the initiative but there are some questions such as how the company intends to liase with both the police and the council with regardto anti-social behaviour problems and the street crime in general. But also do they intend to work in partnership with the police and the council on crime in general?"

He added "We need to know more about them and they need to present themselves to the council and police
But mark Tully, who set up Safety patrol Ltd with Bob Foreman, hit back.

"The police have always been well aware of us,"

He told The News Guardian."The police have had our documentation for a month: I've been to see them twice so thay are well aware of what is going on."
He questioned why there was such concerns about his firm when security guards street wardens and supervised doormen were able to protect the streets in some areas of the region without any problems.
"we will have input from the police for training, all our employees will be CRB screened and we will work and train to security industry standard so they will be up to specification," added Mr. Tully.
"Our people won't be putting themselves at risk, they're not going to be frontline police, they are going to be reporting matters

first of its kind in the country as people could be taking the law into their own hands and putting their lives at risk.

Cheif inspector Steve Neill,of North Tyneside area command, said:

"The police and local authority work closely together in tackling a wide range of crime and quality of life issues. As a result of close partnership work, a number of community initiatives are underway such as police and community Support Officers and a dedicated transport team for the borough. We have had initial contact from the organisers of this company, outlining their proposals. We have a number of areas of concern which we are discussing with our partners. We have asked for more information from the company and will discuss it's firm proposals with our partners to determine the best way ahead for the residents of North Tyneside."

Coun Micheal McIntyre, a Whitley Bay ward councillor, is keen to meet with bosses at the company to discuss how they will work in partnership with the local authority.

He said: "The council is not necessarily against the initiative but there are some questions such as how the company intends to liase with both the police and the council with regardto anti-social behaviour problems and the street crime in general. But also do they intend to work in partnership with the police and the council on crime in general?"

He added "We need to know more about them and they need to present themselves to the council and police
But mark Tully, who set up Safety patrol Ltd with Bob Foreman, hit back.

"The police have always been well aware of us,"

He told The News Guardian."The police have had our documentation for a month: I've been to see them twice so thay are well aware of what is going on."
He questioned why there was such concerns about his firm when security guards street wardens and supervised doormen were able to protect the streets in some areas of the region without any problems.
"we will have input from the police for training, all our employees will be CRB screened and we will work and train to security industry standard so they will be up to specification," added Mr. Tully.
"Our people won't be putting themselves at risk, they're not going to be frontline police, they are going to be reporting matters

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Just a few questions:
Now it appears that the police don't even know who these people are!!!

There is NO mention in this report that the 'Safety Patrol' scheme is
a private subscription system that will only benefit those who cough up cash!!!

Yet, even more bizarrely, the writer David Sedgewick mentions
this scheme as the first of its kind in the country...

It is only the first of its kind in the country because it is the first UK private PAY-UP scheme!!

let's look at Mr Tullys statement shall we...


He questioned why there was such concerns about his firm when security guards street wardens and supervised doormen were able to protect the streets in some areas of the region without any problems.
"we will have input from the police for training, all our employees will be CRB screened and we will work and train to security industry standard so they will be up to specification," added Mr. Tully.


Now forgive me if i'm mistaken, but, security guards protect malls,
shops and private property... and have permission / are vetted by the police authority...

THEY DO NOT PATROL THE STREETS!

the streets where we live are public.

can anyone tell me Did I miss a meeting?

...are the streets of Whitley Bay to be privatized, as some areas are in California?

are the streets of the UK going to re-defined as a shopping mall
so that privae security firms can run around spying on people,
and enforcing vigilante law?

'Safety Patrol' Ltd....if it is to be a public service surely it must serve all of the public...
as i am led to beleive the police must do...

If this were a voluntary organisation doing it for free... I wouldn't have any problem with it...
as long as the volunteers and the actual organisers met local police authority requiremnets...


Our people won't be putting themselves at risk, they're not going to be frontline police, they are going to be reporting matters

How is a private company a 'citizen run' community initiative?

Should we really welcome a private Stasi, which will spy on us?

even if they have good intentions, which I doubt...

is this the thin end of the wedge...?

Yours,
still in shock
Paul T Cobbin
(aka Captain wardrobe)