The Independent police sector
nick cowen, 30 May 2007
When the government fails to fulfill its minimal responsibilities, it is the poor that will suffer while the rich can usually find an alternative. In a typical case in the UK, for years, even as average fees have been rising, the number of families seeking out independent education has been growing steadily. There it is because a minimal amount of discipline and teaching has not been available in many areas of state education for some time.
Now, (via BOM), we learn that a far more basic government service, protection from crime, has fallen to such a level that the richer streets of North London, Primrose Hill in particular, are beginning to invest in independent security forces. Pity the other inhabitants of Camden who cannot afford to opt out of state police protection.
Errr….. what “state police protection” is that then ?
There’s none at all. Apart from posters and exhortation to lock up etc., there’s nothing. The Police are purely responsive to crime ; and they’re rubbish at that.
The poorer areas are only worse off in that the presence of patrols drives criminals to areas where there is no patrolling.
The Police can hardly complain, though, as they claim patrolling doesn’t work.