大象传媒

An Essex town could become one of the first in the country to see a private security company patrolling residential areas.

The company has been accredited by Essex Police and could be granted powers to tackle antisocial behaviour, issuing fixed penalty notices and confiscating alcohol.

It could be the latest public service to be topped up by commercial companies: we already have private hospitals, prisons and schools.

But with police budgets being tightened in the coming year the debate over paying for private security patrols is one that looks unlikely to go away.