by The Local Democracy Reporter
Alicia Kearns, MP for Rutland and Stamford, has launched a blistering critique of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s (PCC) decision to allocate £2 million of taxpayer money to private security patrols. In a formal letter sent to PCC Rupert Matthews on May 8, 2026, Alicia Kearns expressed "serious concern" over the deployment of these patrols across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. She argued that the funds would be better spent on frontline policing rather than "unaccountable" private staff who lack policing powers.
The MP highlighted a significant gap between the proposed patrols and the established police force, noting that the private security teams would have no clear operational remit and no established framework for accountability. In her letter, Alicia Kearns emphasised that "effective policing depends on the trust, collaboration and accountability that only a properly funded, democratically overseen police service can provide". She further pointed out that the £2 million price tag could instead fund approximately 30 new and genuine police officers to support a force already working under "considerable strain".
Alicia Kearns also raised alarms regarding public safety, suggesting that private patrols could lead to dangerous delays during emergencies if residents mistake private staff for police and fail to call the proper authorities. She specifically referenced a trial of a similar scheme in Melton last year, claiming it resulted in several calls where police had to intervene because private staff were "out of their depth" and had "overstepped the mark".
The letter concludes with a demand for transparency, with Aliacia Kearns asking whether private staff will face the same rigorous vetting as police officers and what level of oversight local police forces will actually maintain over these patrols. "I've written to demand answers," Kearns stated, "and I'll keep pushing until we get them".
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