Austerity measures and cuts to budgets mean forces are aiming to do more with less and it is clear that a market for the buying and selling of policing services is emerging. The UK has delegated more public services to the private sector than any other country in Europe and the regulation of private security industry has been a persistent concern in policing and government circles.

The Forum considered the following questions:

• What aspects of what the police do can/should be delivered by the private sector?
• How – and how far – can this be done?
• What are the opportunities and risks involved and how do we ensure that it is done in the public interest?