Peter McCormack, well-known Bitcoin podcaster and owner of Real Bedford FC, has announced a bold plan to tackle rising crime in Bedford, UK, stepping into a role some liken to a real-life Batman.
Key Takeaways:
Bitcoin podcaster Peter McCormack is funding private security patrols in Bedford to address rising crime. McCormack cites police inaction and growing issues like harassment and shoplifting harming local businesses. Legal experts warn that vigilantism is illegal in the UK.Frustrated by what he calls the police’s failure to protect the community, McCormack is personally funding a pilot initiative deploying ten security guards to patrol the town center every Saturday.
In a post on X, McCormack said, “If the police won’t keep the town safe for our women and children, I will.”
Rising Crime in Bedford Sparks Business Closures
McCormack said his concerns center on a surge in crime, including aggressive begging, shoplifting, and harassment, which he says have driven shoppers away, forced stores to close, and left families feeling unsafe.
The Bedford-based entrepreneur and football club owner claims he issued a warning to local police before launching his plan, criticizing them for not addressing these issues.
Bedford, a town of around 185,800 residents located less than two hours from London, has seen McCormack become a vocal advocate for community safety.
Alongside his business ventures, he runs Real Bedford FC, a football club famously dubbed the “Bitcoin soccer team,” backed by investments from Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.
McCormack has engaged local residents by surveying them about crime and has called for community meetings to build support for his security project.
Despite the initiative’s ambition, legal questions remain around how these private security personnel will operate in public spaces.
Vigilantism is illegal in the UK, and experts from JD Spicer Zeb Solicitors caution that such efforts must stay within legal boundaries.
It is suggested that the guards may function more as informants, gathering video evidence to assist police investigations, similar to the growing trend of traffic vigilantes in the country.
While the concept of privately funded security patrols might seem unconventional, it reflects a broader trend in areas facing police shortages.
Lieutenant Eric J. Altorfer of the San Francisco Police Department noted earlier this year that private security increasingly fills gaps left by understaffed law enforcement agencies.
However, Altorfer emphasized the importance of clear collaboration between private security firms and public police to ensure accountability and effectiveness.
Crypto Execs Hire Bodyguards Amid Influencer Kidnapping Concerns
As reported, crypto executives are turning to personal security services as targeted kidnappings and ransom attempts continue to escalate, particularly in France.
In May, private security firms such as Infinite Risks International, based in Amsterdam, reported a sharp increase in demand from crypto professionals seeking round-the-clock protection amid rising crypto kidnappings.
The rise in inquiries came after a spate of violent attacks, including multiple kidnapping attempts that have alarmed both investors and law enforcement.
In France, the father of a crypto millionaire was brutally attacked. And in New York, a tourist was tortured for over two weeks as kidnappers tried to extract his Bitcoin credentials.
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