Amid declining public confidence in traditional police and rising crime rates, private security firms like My Local Bobby are stepping up, raising debates over the future of law enforcement and community safety in Britain.
On a sunny summer morning in August 2024, Leicester Square witnessed a harrowing incident when an 11-year-old girl was grabbed and repeatedly stabbed by a knife-wielding attacker. The suspect, Romanian national Ioan Pintaru, was subdued not by the Metropolitan Police but by two men in uniform from a private police force, My Local Bobby. This attack underscored an unexpected but growing trend in the capital and beyond—the rise of private policing as a response to diminishing public confidence in traditional law enforcement.
My Local Bobby, founded in 2016 by David McKelvey, a former Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector with a background in organised crime, has pioneered this private policing model. Initially operating in affluent London districts including Belgravia and Kensington, the company now covers numerous residential and commercial areas across London and parts of Essex, Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. The firm employs around 150 uniformed officers and 24 plain-clothes detectives, many of whom are ex-police or military personnel, identifiable by their distinctive red livery. Their remit extends beyond typical security duties to encompass community care tasks such as monitoring street cleanliness and ensuring local infrastructure is maintained. The service is subscription-based, with households paying between £30 and £125 a month for tailored policing coverage that includes rapid response to local concerns and direct communication channels via dedicated mobile numbers and WhatsApp groups.
The premise behind My Local Bobby stems from what McKelvey describes as “the thing missing from policing was police officers.” Over the last decade, Britain has seen a significant decline in visible police presence, driven by budget cuts and officer reductions—the Metropolitan Police alone lost approximately 1,000 officers in the past year. This has coincided with a surge in shoplifting and other low-level crimes that traditional forces struggle to manage. In 2023, shoplifting incidents in the UK rose by 20% to over half a million offences, with losses to retailers estimated at £2.2 billion annually. Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows public confidence in the police has fallen to historic lows, with only 49% rating their local force positively—a drop of 13 percentage points over the past ten years. Coupled with the lowest crime clearance rates in decades—only 5.7% of reported crimes were solved in 2022 compared to 29% in 2010—many communities feel abandoned by official law enforcement.
Against this backdrop, private forces like My Local Bobby have stepped in to fill the void. They undertake proactive measures to apprehend offenders, including citizens’ arrests under the Criminal Law Act, and handle incidents ranging from violent crime to antisocial behaviour and retail theft. In some cases, they have initiated private prosecutions where police have been unable or unwilling to pursue charges, notably in shoplifting and drug-related offences. For example, as early as 2020, My Local Bobby pursued private prosecutions after police advised releasing suspects. Similarly, in 2023, a private police outfit managed a 100% conviction rate for 300 shoplifting cases in London, a feat that further illustrates the challenges faced by traditional police resources.
Their operational success is notable. In Brentwood’s Hutton Mount suburb, since My Local Bobby’s introduction, incidents have plummeted dramatically compared to surrounding areas. This success is mirrored in business districts too; The Junction BID in Clapham Junction recently engaged the firm to counteract rising retail theft and the dwindling visibility of official policing. Jonny Dyson from the BID highlighted the shift in policing visibility, lamenting the closure of police stations and describing the presence of private bobbies as a small but crucial step toward regaining control over neglected public spaces.
However, private policing is not without critics. Some residents worry such services may inadvertently signal to criminals that affluent neighbourhoods have valuable targets, potentially attracting more crime. Furthermore, the legal powers of private officers remain limited compared to sworn police, primarily restricted to citizen’s arrests and acting within the bounds of reasonable force. Community debate continues over whether private policing represents a necessary innovation or a dangerous commodification of what many consider a public service.
Despite these concerns, the growth of private policing firms mirrors a broader societal response to gaps in public policing. Other companies following My Local Bobby’s model include Blueline Security, Safeguard Force, and Birmingham-based The Shield, each deploying personnel with specialist training and promoting collaboration with official police forces. These firms emphasise intelligence-led patrols and community engagement as key strategies to combat crime and disorder.
David McKelvey remains clear about his mission: “There is a gap in policing and all we’ve done is come along and fill that gap.” With public confidence in traditional policing under strain and serious crime rates rising, the private policing sector’s emergence signals a significant shift in how communities approach safety and security in 21st-century Britain.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative references a stabbing incident in Leicester Square involving Ioan Pintaru, which occurred on 12 August 2024. The earliest known publication date of this incident is 13 August 2024, as reported by the BBC. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y3e6dl6wgo?utm_source=openai)) The article also discusses My Local Bobby, a private policing company founded in 2016. While the company has been operating for several years, the specific focus on their involvement in recent incidents suggests a moderate freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from David McKelvey, co-founder of My Local Bobby, stating, “There is a gap in policing and all we’ve done is come along and fill that gap.” A search reveals that this quote has been used in previous reports, indicating potential reuse of content. However, no earlier matches for this specific quote were found, suggesting it may be original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a publication known for sensationalist reporting. This raises concerns about the reliability of the information presented. Additionally, the article references My Local Bobby, a private security company founded by former Metropolitan Police officers David McKelvey and Tony Nash in 2016. While the company has been operating for several years, its association with the Daily Mail may affect the perceived reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative discusses the rise of private policing in response to declining public confidence in traditional law enforcement, citing the specific case of My Local Bobby’s involvement in Leicester Square. The article also mentions the stabbing incident involving Ioan Pintaru, which occurred on 12 August 2024. These claims are plausible and align with other reports from reputable sources. However, the Daily Mail’s sensationalist reporting style and the company’s association with the publication may affect the perceived plausibility of the information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents information about a stabbing incident in Leicester Square and the involvement of My Local Bobby, a private policing company. While the claims are plausible and align with other reports, the Daily Mail’s sensationalist reporting style and the company’s association with the publication raise concerns about the reliability and freshness of the information. The reuse of quotes and the lack of coverage from other reputable outlets further contribute to the uncertainty. Therefore, the overall assessment is ‘OPEN’ with a medium confidence level.
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