Privatisation ‐ variation on a theme

The level of funding of the police is an important factor in determining the type of service that can be offered. Traditionally, this funding is derived from public sources enabling those responsible for service delivery to claim independence and as a consequence impartiality. This paper examines a growing tendency for privately funded resources to find their way into the budgets of the police. In particular, the paper focuses on four distinct types of private aid to the police, examining each for its utility. Finally, the paper examines the affect of this growing practice on the philosophical issues of the independence and impartiality of the police.