Prominent Bitcoin podcaster and Real Bedford FC owner Peter McCormack claims he can tackle Bedford’s rising crime rate better than the local police force, taking on a role some might liken to a real-life Batman.
However, the legal implications of his plan are still unknown.
“As I promised, if the police won’t keep the town safe for our women and children, I will,” McCormack said in an X post on Friday, explaining that he is personally funding a pilot project to provide security in his hometown of Bedford, UK, with 10 guards patrolling the town center every Saturday.
“The police have failed us,” says McCormack
“Why? Because the police have failed us. More crackheads, more aggressive beggars, more shoplifters, and therefore fewer people coming into town. Women are being harassed, shops are closing, and families no longer feel safe,” McCormack said.
McCormack said the announcement came only after he warned the police force. “The police aren’t delivering. I put the police on notice regarding this,” he said.
McCormack is a vocal advocate for Bedford, a town of approximately 185,800 residents located less than two hours from London, according to Total Population data. He owns several businesses in the town as well as the local football club, Real Bedford FC — often dubbed the “Bitcoin soccer team” and backed by investment from Gemini co-founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
He said he has surveyed Bedford residents about the crime problem and has invited the local community to attend a meeting to help rally further support.
How these private security guards would operate in public and the extent of their authority is unclear, as vigilantism is illegal in the UK, according to JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors.
However, they might instead serve more as informants to the police by providing video footage, much like the increasing number of traffic vigilantes around the country.
Authorities around the globe say private security becoming more common
Although the idea of privately funded security for the town might sound unusual, some experts say it is becoming increasingly common.
Lieutenant Eric J. Altorfer of the San Francisco Police Department said in May that police staffing shortages have increasingly led communities to turn to private security firms to fill gaps.
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“Private security is already playing a crucial role in public safety by filling in where our department lacks resources,” Altorfer said.
However, he emphasized that such partnerships only succeed when cooperation between private firms and public law enforcement exists.
“The challenge now is formalizing that relationship in a way that maintains accountability and effectiveness,” he said.
Cointelegraph reached out to Peter McCormack for comment, but did not receive a response by time of publication.
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