 The firm's cars will record vandals on camera |
A village has hired a private security firm to help stop vandalism. Clapham shares just three beat officers with all of North Bedfordshire.
Recently, the town has been plagued by vandals who smash up telephone boxes and bus shelters, so it has hired its own security guards to police the area and deter the offenders.
Patrol vehicles used by Guardforce Security Services will be equipped with video surveillance cameras and offenders handed to the police.
Nigel Sparrow, chairman of the parish council, said the company was to start next week, but after vandals struck at the weekend it was called in early.
He said: "In the road going up to Yarl's Wood, nails, nuts and bolts were spread across the road in the night, and cars coming by had their tyres punctured."
Bob Dolby, from Guardforce Security Services, said: "Within our patrol vehicle we will have video data capture equipment, and that will be recording what has actually happened.
"In the event people are breaking the law, that will be passed over to the police and the council for them to take appropriate action."
The firm said Clapham is not the only village in the area dealing with vandalism, and they expect other councils may follow its example.
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