With rising concerns over public safety, McCormack says he’s stepping up where the police have fallen short — by paying for a group of private security guards to patrol the streets every Saturday.
The town, home to around 185,800 people and located under two hours from London, has seen an increase in what McCormack calls “aggressive beggars,” shoplifting, and harassment.
McCormack said he warned Bedford police before announcing the plan. Now, he’s personally funding a pilot program that sends 10 guards to monitor the town center every Saturday. According to him, this is all about making the streets safer for women, children, and families who no longer feel comfortable going out.
Announcing my private security pilot for Bedford Town Centre
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Starting this August, I’m personally funding a pilot project to provide private security in Bedford. Every Saturday, 10 guards will patrol the town centre and oversee safe parking at Lurke…
It’s not yet clear how far these guards can go in stopping crime. In the UK, taking justice into your own hands isn’t just frowned upon — it could be illegal.
According to law experts at JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors, vigilantism is against the law. So while McCormack’s plan might sound bold, the details of how it will work within legal limits are still uncertain.
That nickname comes from the backing of Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, the co-founders of Gemini, who have invested in the team.
To build momentum behind his crime-fighting effort, McCormack said he surveyed locals and is organizing a community meeting. He wants residents to get involved and share their experiences and ideas for making Bedford safer.
Bedford isn’t the only place looking outside traditional police forces. In San Francisco, Lieutenant Eric J. Altorfer of the city’s police department said private security is increasingly stepping in to handle public safety, especially as law enforcement struggles with staffing issues.
“Private security is already playing a crucial role,” Altorfer said in May. But he stressed that for it to work, there has to be coordination between private firms and police — not conflict.
As McCormack’s plan moves forward, the focus will be on how the guards are trained, how they operate, and whether they work alongside the police or against them.
For now, Bedford has a Bitcoin-backed football club owner willing to spend money to make the streets safer — whether the law sees it the same way is a question still hanging in the air.
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