19/07/2010

By Graham Buck

Businesses moving to a new office and retail complex in London’s City district will be asked to fund its own dedicated police force, according to reports.

Local business leaders believe that extra policing against threats ranging from fraud to terrorism is essential to the security of the One New Change development, situated opposite St Paul’s Cathedral.

The Financial Times reports that a year-long police trial showed that many businesses are ready to pay for the added protection, which they believe is essential if the new complex is to match the success of other complexes such as Westfield. In addition, some police commanders believe that further deals of this nature could offer forces a valuable source of extra revenue as they face the prospect of budget cuts.

The new complex, due to open in November, will have its own dedicated unit of five police officers in addition to the basic coverage provided by the force in the area. This follows a 12-month trial in the Broadgate Estate in the City district, which deployed a similar number.

The decision by One New Place to hire extra officers from the City force is also regarded as a snub to security companies in the private sector, such as Serco and G4S, which also provide security staff to businesses and shopping centres.

The paper quotes Ruth Duston, director of the Cheapside Initiative, a public-private group overseeing the building developments, who believes a partnership between companies and law enforcers offers “policing at a more strategic level” in areas such as counter-terrorism and economic crime.

“We are not looking to replace the services our local providers should be delivering. But we are looking at what can be provided to the business community that is not provided already – especially in view of those spending cuts,” she said.

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