Crime scene guards are criticised

The police say the civilian guards have been well trained

Devon and Cornwall Police are being criticised for using private security guards to protect crime scenes.

Recent deployments include the home of Mary Fox in Bodmin, who died in a suspected arson attack.

The joint pilot project with Avon and Somerset has been criticised by police staff as a cost-cutting measure.

The force said the civilians were properly trained and police officers could be used more effectively out on patrol and gathering intelligence.

We know that they are SIA-accredited, but so are supermarket security guards Nigel Rabbits, Police Federation

The staff have been supplied by Reliance and know how a scene should be guarded and what to do with information given by members of the public, the police said.

Nigel Rabbits, vice chairman of the Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, said his organisation had been informed about the six-month trial, but not consulted.

"We don't know what training these individual security guards have been given. We know that they are SIA-accredited [Security Industry Authority], but so are supermarket security guards," he said.

"It is a specialist role and it does need a properly trained, properly uniformed and properly empowered person to carry out that job."

He added: "Although they can provide a physical barrier, there is a lot more to guarding a scene than just stopping people from crossing the line."

Devon and Cornwall Police said there had been full consultation with the Police Federation before the introduction of the pilot.

'Proper deployment'

The force said: "We believe both police and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) are much better used when not being left to stand on a cordon.

"If necessary, the guards can call on police to assist them in any situation.

"Police officers and PCSOs are trained to a high standard and we have asked the question whether it is the best use of their skills leaving them standing on a cordon for hours on end.

"The guards give us the chance to properly deploy our resources where they can best and most effectively be used."

Mary Fox, 59, of Wallace Road, Bodmin, died in a fire at her home on Thursday 5 November. Police cordoned off the scene to carry out an investigation into the cause.