How many families in Darlington would be willing to pay a private firm to try to keep law and order? Not many. A few have agreed to pay the company which has started sending out staff on patrol, but there doesn't seem much hope of the idea spreading.
Most people point out that they already pay through their rates for the police to do this job. If the law is being broken by burglars, thieves, hooligans, bullies, disturbers of the peace, vandals, bad drivers or other offenders the police should be called -- and if they don't do their job a complaint should be made against them.
These new men now being hired to walk round the streets have no powers or authority to deal with crimes or arrest wrongdoers, so it is difficult to see what good they can do. Can they really give value for money to the residents who pay for their services? Only time will tell, but the odds must be against them still being on patrol in the town in a year's time.