Colchester guards face scrutiny after handcuffing two teenage girls over alleged theft
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.
In short
- 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.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those defending the guards could argue that they were responding to a reported theft and may have believed a brief detention was needed to prevent the girls leaving before the matter could be checked. They might say that visible patrols can help address public concerns about anti-social behaviour, provided guards act lawfully and are properly trained and supervised.
The case against
Critics could argue that private guards without policing powers should use particular restraint, especially when dealing with teenagers, and that handcuffing them over an alleged shop theft raises serious questions about proportionality and training. The girls were not charged, and the incident supports calls for clear limits, effective oversight and accountability for a publicly funded scheme.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Private security guards hired to monitor asylum seekers in town accused of ‘overstepping’ by detaining two teenage girls for ‘shoplifting’”.