The 20 men and women who make up the Community Rangers of Leeds, Selby and York have been astutely described not as private or even ‘alternative’ police officers, but as “professional witnesses”. If that sounds a little lightweight for the real world of street crime, it should be pointed out that anti-stab jackets, handcuffs and Hepatitis B jabs are standard issue for each member of the Rangers team.
One of the pivotal topics of conversation surrounding the issue of civilian community patrolling has of course been the limited powers given to non-police personnel. If such civilians feel frustrated that, in a good many situations, all they can do is merely stand and watch, then the Mayfair Group that runs these particular Rangers makes sure that each and every one of them stands and watches very efficiently and effectively – and, more importantly perhaps, to evidential standards.
Each of the 12 branded patrol vehicles is armed with a sophisticated CCTV system. In addition, every Ranger carries a digital still camera and has been extensively trained in giving verbal evidence.
What really sets these Rangers apart both politically and structurally from other Community Warden schemes in the UK (‘Partners on patrol’, SMT, August 2002, pp20-23) is that they’re employed directly by a security company commissioned by the local authority, as opposed to the local authority itself. Mayfair Security is quick to point out that the differences do not end there, though.
Operations manager Ian Crawford takes up the story: “Most Community Warden schemes do not involve the same level of training, while their lack of any defensive-style clothing underlines a very serious point. In other words, they’d be allowed to back off in many situations where our Rangers would not be expected to.”
Crawford added: “Geographically, the Selby Rangers do overlap with Community Warden schemes in some parts of Leeds but, if anything, when this does happen it merely serves to highlight the differences still further.”
Extending the Rangers’ powers
Security company and CCTV monitoring specialist Mayfair is talking to local police forces about extending the Rangers’ powers but, for anyone drawing comparisons with a secondary police force, Crawford emphasises that the Selby Rangers are there principally to keep the peace on a pre-emptive basis. To prevent crime, assuage the fear of crime and provide audio-video and verbal evidence when required for the benefit of the police.
One common factor with the police, however, is that the Rangers team is geared to respond directly to members of the public. Using a well-publicised 0800 telephone number, citizens within any of the designated patrol areas can report incidents or problems, or perhaps simply express concern about an incident (such as a noisy crowd in the neighbourhood, or any types of sporadic anti-social behaviour).
“In reality,” added Crawford, “many people call to tell us what dates they’re going to be away on holiday so that we can arrange a drive-by. Much of what we do would otherwise be an unnecessary drain on police time. Our presence releases them to tackle more serious incidents of local crime and disorder.”
It was their limited powers that provided the original motive for equipping each Ranger with equipment like digital cameras but, as Ian Crawford told SMT, the Selby Rangers are now carrying more technology than is available to most police officers.
In addition, the technical quality of their evidence means that the Rangers are called upon in a non-partisan capacity to provide additional visual powers at incidents where there is already an ample police presence.
Moving towards integrated security
The patrols in Selby mesh with the Mayfair Security Group’s stationary network of CCTV cameras linked to its recently-expanded, NACOSS-approved central monitoring station.
“We have 34 fully-functional cameras dotted around the district,” stressed Crawford. The cameras have been supplied by a number of manufacturers, around a third of them originating from VCL. In truth that proportion is increasing because, as each of the older models begin to fail, they’re being replaced with VCL’s popular Microsphere domes.
The 12 Ranger vehicles are not equipped to transmit CCTV data, but their recordings can be synchronised with the stationary units in the central monitoring station after any event, providing extra cover and perhaps plugging holes in evidence recording where, for example, surveillance subjects have moved beyond the range of the fixed cameras.
Stepping back in time for a moment, the Rangers began life in a particular problem area of Selby – the Mayfair Group’s home town – and spread into several other neighbourhoods before being invited to extend into parts of York and Leeds. Reaction to their presence has been positive from all sides, even where the cost to individuals is visible (as is the case in Selby, where every household has seen GB pound 8 added to the Parish Precept).
Locals point out that such a sum is no problem considering that the actual Police Precept increased by 54% at the same time.
People feel they have paid for a ‘security service’ that’s user-friendly (hence the reason why they call the 0800 number for Rangers to check on their homes if they leave town).
In counting the cost of any service, the reflex reaction is always to ask: “What are we getting for our money?” Most security system/service end users will be all-too-familiar with that concept, and rightly so. That said, when a scheme is not only based on teamwork but is largely pre-emptive and acting as a deterrent – as is the case with the Selby Rangers – then a statistical breakdown of the ‘results’ would be too much to hope for. Nonetheless, a team of researchers at Leeds University is currently quantifying reports with the aim of producing just such an analysis.
For his part, Ian Crawford is in no doubt about the future of community ranger schemes. “Everyone is beginning to wake up to the positive impact these schemes can have in the local community,” urged Crawford, “both in terms of the overall effect they have on the communities themselves and the knock-on effect they have in allowing the police to work more efficiently. The fact that we have appointments to meet up with 17 other local authorities in the next couple of months says a great deal about how others perceive what we have already achieved with the Selby Rangers.”
The initiative is clearly popular with the local police. Acting Inspector Steve Maud told SMT: “We have an excellent working relationship with Mayfair Security and the Community Rangers. I think the police service is going to have to embrace more and more of these organisations in the years ahead.”
What about the local council’s opinion? Wally Norton is well qualified to speak about community patrolling and the Rangers. As well as acting as a Selby town councillor, district councillor and former district council chairman, Norton is an ex-CID officer. “The Rangers have been very well received by the locals,” said Norton. “They appreciate having a visible presence among them, in particular when that presence is dressed in a uniform and patrols in marked vehicles. That shows authority, and is a visible notice of action being taken in support of the police.”
It’s perhaps a tad predictable that someone of Norton’s background should favour greater powers for the Rangers, but whether or not that is allowed to happen is open to debate.
“No-one wants the Rangers to replace the police,” added Norton. “Each party has a very difficult to job to do when it comes to law enforcement, but I do think some limited powers of detention would help to equip the Rangers to do their job that little bit more effectively.” An interesting perspective.
