Wealthy residents of Richmond in south-west London pay for ‘private police force’ to patrol streets (but video of guard grabbing scooter user prompts claims of over-zealousness)
- The affluent oasis of Richmond became a magnet for yobs during the pandemic
- As many as 500 yobs are said to have used The Green in Richmond for parties
- Locals are fighting back and have set up private police forces to patrol streets
- However, questions over their heavy handedness have been raised after a video of a ‘guard’ was shared on social media in which a man grabbed a youngster
Desperate residents are turning to private police forces to patrol their streets to defend them from teen gangs making their lives a misery.
They are fighting back after their affluent oasis became a magnet for yobs during the pandemic, turning parts into a no-go zone.
As many as 500 are said to have poured on to The Green in Richmond, south-west London, for drink and drug-fuelled parties.
Violence and disorder have spread to the town centre and riverside in the sought-after postcode where Sir David Attenborough, business leaders and celebrities live.
But the use of private patrols has triggered a written warning from the police and council for residents not to take the law into their own hands.
In one incident, a video on social media showed a security guard in a quasi-military uniform grabbing a youngster using an electric scooter.
Flashpoint: A guard in quasi-military uniform confronts a rider on a scooter in a video that was shared on social media from Richmond. The man was shown grabbing the youngster who was on an electric scooter
A witness wrote on Twitter: ‘Two patrolling guys terrorised high street. Innocent residents were harassed.
‘Those who wanted to videotape were hit. Can you explain what is going on before we have a #GeorgeFloyd incident here!’
A resident of The Green hit back: ‘The patrol was trying to make a lawful citizen’s arrest following a threat as he was trying to move a group of down-and-outs from the bank doorway, who had been accused earlier of shoplifting in Waitrose. Nobody was hit.
As many as 500 ‘yobs’ are said to have poured on to The Green in Richmond in south-west London, for drink and drug-fuelled parties during the pandemic (stock photo of Richmond green)
‘These security operatives had been operating for weeks to manage widespread ASB [antisocial behaviour] (500+ at times), drug dealing etc on The Green and on Riverside.’
It is understood the police have arrested a male guard, 39, on suspicion of assault.
Community group Friends of Richmond Green confirmed a ‘residents-led initiative’ has been mounted. Chairman Vivien Harris said: ‘Our residents have been reporting suspected illegal behaviour by drug dealers in cars, urination and other anti-social behaviour.
The video shared on social media showed the ‘guard’ tussling with the youngster over his electric scooter. People on the street watched on as the tussle spilled onto the road as the two struggled
‘We constantly use 101, and 999 where appropriate, to report instances but have to wait a long time for a response.
‘The Green and its neighbourhood have become a place of excessive drinking and drug dealing. There are no public toilets so our gardens, backyards and paths have become awash with urine and faeces.’
Mrs Harris refused to name the firm which ran the patrols and said no contract had been signed. Richmond police station closed in 2018 and the nearest alternative in Twickenham is shut for refurbishment.