# Colchester guards face scrutiny after handcuffing two teenage girls over alleged theft

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/private-security-guards-hired-to-monitor-asylum-seekers-in-town-accused-of-overstepping-by-detaining-two-teenage-girls-for-shoplifting/
- Published: 2026-10-22T18:51:50+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-22T19:17:47+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16230583/Private-security-guards-hired-monitor-asylum-seekers-town-accused-overstepping-detaining-two-teenage-girls-shoplifting.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Guards handcuffed two teenage girls after a reported shop theft.
- The girls were not charged, and the items were returned.
- The incident prompted scrutiny of the patrol scheme.

## Summary

Two private security guards patrolling Colchester under an Essex County Council scheme handcuffed two teenage girls over a reported shop theft, prompting a Labour councillor to accuse them of exceeding their authority. The incident has raised questions about the conduct and oversight of guards hired to respond to concerns about anti-social behaviour linked to asylum seekers.

The girls were detained on 17 September, three days after Operation Vanguard began. Six uniformed operatives patrol Colchester, Chelmsford and Braintree daily from 10am to 6pm, but have no policing powers. Essex Police recorded two offences of assault without injury against the guards; the girls were not charged, and the force said the items were returned and lessons were passed to the guards’ employer.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.