Historically ‘private’ police forces have always been a feature of policing in the UK. Over the decades some have disappeared, whilst some have amalgamated with other Forces. (The picture is of Birmingham Parks Police circa 1980s). The ‘police family’ used to be quite a narrow expression which accurately described the work of warranted police officers. I would venture to suggest that the extended ‘policing family’ as well as encompassing police staff members, Special Constables
and volunteers, now also arguably describes an environment whereby many ‘policing’ functions are also carried out by professionalized security companies. The days of so-called ‘man-guarding’ alone no longer accurately describe the immense range of services now on offer many of which support our policing effort.
