Retired detectives are to set up Britain’s largest and most sophisticated private police force in an attempt to deal with a “national crisis” in law enforcement. The agency, which is being set up by former Metropolitan police officers, will patrol the streets of central London, make arrests, gather evidence on crimes and mount private prosecutions of offenders that police do not have the resources to deal with. The agency will also have access to the national police database. The scheme, called My Local Bobby (MLB), will be launched next month and headed by Tony Nash, the former borough commander of Newham, east London, who retired last week after 30 years of service. He said: “There is real talent in the police but it is stretched.…

Source: The Times March 05, 2017 00:03 UTC