I thought they was already private police forces in the Uk. BTP Transport police paid for by the rail companies Habour police paid for by the habour boards MOD police paid for by the MOD.
As Cat has already stated they aren't "private" police forces as such. They exist due to legislation which specifically requires them to cover a specific area of public safety or crime detection and reduction.
They are acountable to mini police authorities and most if not all are inspected by HM Inspector of Constabulary. There are rules governing how they must be trained, and how they perform. They aren't just a group of people who have donned a uniform and jacket with "police" on the back and automatically think they are police officers.
For the reason Cat sets out I think privatising the emergency services would be very dangerous, profit before service, possible corruption, and a lack of accountability and consistency is what worries me the most. We already have elements of that now, but it would be worse if pushed out to the private sector.
Do we want to see our police, ambos, firefighters, and Coastguards donned in uniforms blazened with sponsors logos? like: "The Metropolitan Fire Brigade: sponsored by Joe Bloggs Supermarkets where baked beans are now only 5p!"
Part of me can't help feel that is the way we are going, and that in 10 years time today's Fire Service, and indeed emergency services will look very different, and not necessarily because of natural progress, or for the best, but because someone will want to truly turn them into corporate businesses rather than public bodies!
