Palo Alto City CouncilCity of Palo AltoPalo Alto, CA 94301Cc: James KeeneSubject: British Outsourcing of the Police FunctionElected Council Members:Most of the so-called “industrialized countries” (mostly the US and Europe) are suffering
from decades of government growth, coupled with promises of lavish salaries and post-retirement payouts to government workers. Britain has been on a downward spiral sincethe end of WWII, in one way or another. Governments all are forced to deal with thismatter, in one way or another. Britain has been dealing with the obvious end of itsgovernment unchecked spending which it can no longer afford by utilizing surveillancecameras in great numbers. Now, it is recognizing that many aspects of the police functioncan be performed by private sector sources. The following articles, appearing via theBBC’s news web-site, areoffered for your consideration.Given that the City Manager has identified the likelihood of deficits in the City’s financesfor years to come, would it not be wise for the Council to take note of other servicedelivery models that are being explored by much larger police departments, such as thosein England. (This outsourcing of patrol functions is also being utilized by the Los AngelesPolice Department).-----2 March 2012
Last updated at20:54 ET
Police invite security firms invited to bid for roles
The plan talks about private firms being involved in patrolling neighbourhoods
Private security firms could investigate some crimes and patrolneighbourhoods under plans being drawn up for police in Englandand Wales.
The West Midlands and Surrey forces- two of England's largest- haveinvited bids for contracts from security companies, on behalf of all forces.
Other services provided privately could include supporting victims andmanaging high-risk individuals.The Home Office stressed private firms would not be able to arrestsuspects.Critics have warned that privatising police services will mean that forceswill be less accountable to the public.BBC political correspondent Louise Stewart said the West Midlands andSurrey forces had been working together since early last year.This is the first time the extent of their plans to involve the private sector in"middle and back office functions" have become clear.They emerge at a time of 20% cuts to police budgets over four years, withHome Secretary Theresa May suggesting forcescould protect "front-linepolicing" by delegating some work to the private sector.
Police station
Our correspondent says the two forces have invited bids from firmsincluding G4S, the world's largest security firm, to deliver a number of services currently undertaken by the police.They include responding to and investigating incidents, supporting victimsand witnesses, managing high-risk individuals and patrollingneighbourhoods.In a statement, the Home Office said of the plans: "Private companies willnot be able to arrest suspects, and they will not be solely responsible for investigating crime."The contract has a potential value of £1.5bn over seven years but couldrise to a £3.5bn, depending on how many other forces signed up, our correspondent adds.That would make it the largest contract to date for a private company toprovide police services.Last month Lincolnshire Police and G4S agreed a £200m contract.Under that agreement, thought to be the first of its kind in the UK, half theforce's civilian staff will join the private company, which will also build andrun a police station.
The Guardian reported it had seen a briefing note sent to companies onthe West Midlands-Surrey plans, which said that all services that "can belegally delegated to theprivate sector" are potentially up for contract.
'Dangerous experiment'
A West Midlands police authority spokesman told the newspaper thatcombining with the business sector was aimed at transforming the way theforce worked."The areas of service listed in this notice are deliberately broad to allow theforce to explore the skills, expertise and solutions a partnership couldbring," he said.But Ben Priestley, Unison's national officer for police and justice, told theGuardian: "Bringing the private sector into policing is a dangerousexperiment with local safety and taxpayers' money."We are urging police authorities not to fall into the trap of thinking theprivate sector is the answer to the coalition's cuts."He added: "Privatisation means that the police will be less accountable tothe public. And people will no longer be able to go to the IndependentPolice Complaints Commission if they have a problem."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17242956#TWEET91745
Private security firm G4S to run Lincolnshire police station
The agreement with G4S is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK
A private security company has signed a deal to design, build andrun a police station in Lincolnshire.
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Letter Sent To Palo Alto (CA) City Council About Police Outsourcing In Britain
Letter sent to the City of Palo Alto (CA) City Council including articles about the outsourcing of the police function in Great Britain, as an effort to control government costs. Suggestions about similar outsourcing are made to the Council, as well as regionalizing the local police function between neighboring cities.
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