We are dismayed to hear of plans being made for a Private Army in Southport. We are opposed to this idea; firmly believing this is the wrong approach and an over the top reaction to the issue of anti-social behaviour in our town.



It’s an unilateral action undertaken without consultation with ourselves, Sefton Council or the police. Among many potential flaws is that it could send out completely the wrong message and could potentially damage Southport’s reputation as a family-friendly resort.


This heavy-handed approach will simply detract from the hard work that is already being done to tackle issues to do with crime & antisocial behaviour. Southport BID is working proactively with Merseyside Police and Sefton Council to tackle the issues.

The increased patrols we requested earlier in the year were successful and our Business Against Crime network continues to deliver results. We would strongly advise businesses to think carefully before becoming involved in this scheme and others like it.

well have to say hats off to you,on this stance on behalf of the town and us bid payers.feel this is a great step backwards for the town,as well as an erie thin end of a dark wedge.especially given those involved and the unknown providence of its operatives! so trust your stance will not become weakend as time goes by .as a bid sceptic,find this stance encouraging that the best intrests are being served on this occasion!

If anyone notices people damaging private property,then,if at all possible,take a quick photograph with your mobile phone,and report it to the nearest police station,as the evidence may help in the conviction of these people.Even using a vehicles dash-cam as evidence when possible,as that is time and date stamped,there are infra-red night vision lenses on some models.

You do NOT even have to intervene,and taking a photo from a safe distance is a better option than any confrontation with trying to apprehend them personally.At least then the Police will have visual evidence to use in a future court case.

Originally Posted by jonnybgood

If anyone notices people damaging property,then,if at all possible,take a quick photograph with your mobile phone,and report it to the nearest police station,as the evidence may help in the conviction of these people.

You do NOT have to intervene,and taking a photo from a distance is a safer option than any confrontation with trying to apprehend them personally.At least then the Police will have visual evidence to use in a future court case.

Take photo and if you survive not getting your head kicked in take a quick drive to copy lane in bootle to report it and hope the culprits are still there on the police's return.


As for jamyramy, your post makes no sense what so ever.

Originally Posted by Ric

Take photo and if you survive not getting your head kicked in take a quick drive to copy lane in bootle to report it and hope they culprits are still there on the police's return.


As for jamyramy, your post makes no sense what so ever.

ok try reading it! the bid are acting for the true stance of the bid paying buissness community on this occasion and are being applauded for demonstrating it,against a gestapo style private army of unknown experience and stability!

Originally Posted by jamyramy

ok try reading it! the bid are acting for the true stance of the bid paying buissness community on this occasion and are being applauded for demonstrating it,against a gestapo style private army of unknown experience and stability!

You try reading it and maybe using spaces and English grammar. As for unknown experience from what I've read they are a professional company staffed by ex police and armed forces personnel. Pity Bid won't do anything for all they extra money they get from the Southport business community in making our town a safe and pleasant place to visit.

Originally Posted by Ric

You try reading it and maybe using spaces and English grammar. As for unknown experience from what I've read they are a professional company staffed by ex police and armed forces personnel. Pity Bid won't do anything for all they extra money they get from the Southport business community in making our town a safe and pleasant place to visit.

sadly and due to lack of support from the goverments that employed the defence and police personel,there is an awful lot of damaged and disenfranchised people out there engaging in this type of work.which begs the question of who polices the private police !

Originally Posted by jamyramy

sadly and due to lack of support from the goverments that employed the defence and police personel,there is an awful lot of damaged and disenfranchised people out there engaging in this type of work.which begs the question of who polices the private police !

You're slating a group of professionals who you have never met or know anything about and until the council and Bid get off their lazy arses and start doing something to make the town a safe place then I'm all for them coming here. If you don't like it I suggest you contact Bid and the council and tell them to get something organised.

Originally Posted by Ric

You're slating a group of professionals who you have never met or know anything about and until the council and Bid get off their lazy arses and start doing something to make the town a safe place then I'm all for them coming here. If you don't like it I suggest you contact Bid and the council and tell them to get something organised.

and if you read my post correctly you will see iwasnt slating our forces but stating that due to lack of goverments support of its ex personel .there is a fair proportion of them that have been affected by their service to the country ,then abandond by government ,that are now engaged in this type of employment,possibly without due vetting of suitability.and so don't wish to have an even less safe and even more less private society!

Originally Posted by jamyramy

and if you read my post correctly you will see iwasnt slating our forces but stating that due to lack of goverments support of its ex personel .there is a fair proportion of them that have been affected by their service to the country ,then abandond by government ,that are now engaged in this type of employment,possibly without due vetting of suitability.and so don't wish to have an even less safe and even more less private society!

So if you don't like the idea of trained professionals monitoring ASB and vandalism and reporting it to the police then how about we have "a right to bear arms" as they have in America, then if we see any trouble we can always shoot the culprits !!

well lets take its current format! up to now if you pay theyl take a look at you buiss,but turn a blind eye to others on their patrol.wont be long before stuff happens to the others,then theyl sign up and cough up as well.then its the die hards that stuff happens to,so theyl cough up as well.and all we be peacefull and poorer to run your buissness!at least the bids taken a vote!

Originally Posted by jamyramy

well lets take its current format! up to now if you pay theyl take a look at you buiss,but turn a blind eye to others on their patrol.wont be long before stuff happens to the others,then theyl sign up and cough up as well.then its the die hards that stuff happens to,so theyl cough up as well.and all we be peacefull and poorer to run your buissness!at least the bids taken a vote!

I'm sorry but you comments make no sense what so ever no matter how many times I read them.


Has the council done anything to stop the recent ASB and vandalism? has BID, the answer is no despite businesses paying rates and BID rates, so now it's time to try something else and should be down to the individual if they wish to pay extra or not and not forced into it as they were with the BID rates.

Originally Posted by Ric

I'm sorry but you comments make no sense what so ever no matter how many times I read them.


Has the council done anything to stop the recent ASB and vandalism? has BID, the answer is no despite businesses paying rates and BID rates, so now it's time to try something else and should be down to the individual if they wish to pay extra or not and not forced into it as they were with the BID rates.

the words sophisticated protection racket spring to mind!

I'm sure the decision by local traders - to spend yet more of their hard earned/ever dwindling income on additional security measures to protect & prevent further attacks on themselves & their businesses & subsequently risk incurring further costly insurance premium increases - was not taken lightly.


Maybe if the police/council/bid had done more in the first place local traders may not have had to resort to these measures. If this completely legal method of additional personal/business protection prevents further town centre businesses from shutting up shop permanently it will be deemed a success.

The self-publicist "Barton" is doing nothing more than 'sabre-rattling'!
I very much doubt it'll ever happen, if it did it would be stopped in the public interest of that I'm sure........ Last time I checked it was the 23rd September not April 1st......