Securicor is launching the first nationwide private response and patrol force but says it will complement and not replace the police.

The scheme, known as First Response, will offer random patrols and an urgent response service to clients who subscribe.

Securicor says the initiative will help the police and the wider community in preventing crime.

The first customers are likely to be businesses in high-crime areas.

But Securicor says there is no reason why residents on private housing estates could not club together to subscribe to the service.

'Gap in the market'

Securicor says First Respone has been developed to fill a gap left by the UK's over-stretched police forces.

It says many constabularies are unable to respond to burglar alarms which go off at premises with a record of false alarms, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

There are also suggestions that some companies will use the service to replace round-the-clock security guards.

With the introduction of the minimum wage, security firms - who have traditionally offered some of the lowest wages in industry - are finding it increasingly difficult to offer cost-efficient security cover.

First Response will operate a fleet of about 150 vans nationwide, which will provide a patrol service checking in at designated properties either weekly, daily or several times a night.

Hoax alarms

They will also respond to any burglar alarms which are set off. Statistics show that 90% are false alarms.

This should release the local police forces to deal with other crimes.

The firm's marketing director David Carruthers outlined the dividing line between First Response and the police.

"If we find there are intruders at the site, we'll call the police. We are not replacing the police service.

"But if there are opportunities to work with the police in the future, we'd like to do that," he said.

Mr Carruthers said the service may also be offered to individual householders, for example those who are going on holiday.

The future of policing

Meanwhile, the London Borough of Wandsworth is unveiling the uniforms of its new street patrols on Tuesday. They are due to hit the streets later this year.

Home Secretary Jack Straw recently unveiled a White Paper which would regulate private security firms, be they operating nightwatchmen, CCTV cameras, store detectives or bouncers.

Police chiefs have varying views on the subject.

Many are opposed to what they see as under-trained, uniformed "cowboys," while others welcome the opportunity to work with private security firms, who might take some of the bread-and-butter policing burden off them.