Henry Conlon at the Dublin Castle

A SPECIALIST police taskforce which patrols Camden Town on weekend nights could be cut in favour of a private security team, the New Journal can reveal.

The switch being discussed at the Town Hall has led to claims that a new levy paid by pubs and clubs is being spent on “glorified bouncers” rather than trained police officers.

Camden Council currently pays £400,000 a year towards a team of 12 extra police officers to tackle problems linked to the large number of people who visit the area’s night spots.

But funding runs out later this year and it is believed it will not be renewed. At the same time, a security firm is to be hired using cash raised by the new local tax on venues open after midnight, known as the “night-time levy”.

Henry Conlon, landlord of the Dublin Castle in Parkway, said publicans had been assured private security would be running “side-by-side” with the existing police team, rather than replacing it.

Mr Conlon said: “It seems to me that we will have the private security team, who are glorified bouncers, and no police to support. My preference is to leave it to the professionals, which is the police. They have been very successful, they have been commended and it would be a shame to lose them. I don’t want to see a private company there instead.”

Mark Neal, who sits on the Camden Town Safer Neighbourhood panel, said it was “very worrying,” adding: “We should be giving the team more funding and support, not less.”

The Town Hall is locked in negotiations with senior figures in Camden Police over the proposed cut. Labour politicians had trumpeted the arrival of the extra officers in 2012 and Camden Town councillor Pat Callaghan said: “Camden Town has the fourth largest night-time economy in the UK and there have been real fears about the levels of crime such as drug offences and thefts.”

Camden Town Unlimited, a group that also charges businesses in the area an extra fee to represent their interests, have vowed to “lobby to retain the dedicated Camden Town police force”, although chief executive Simon Pitkeathley declined to comment on the negotiations yesterday (Wednesday).

Simon Pitkeathley from Camden Town Unlimited declined to comment

Chris Fagg, a resident member of the police’s community liaison groups, questioned borough commander Catherine Roper – Camden’s most senior police officer – about the cuts at a Town Hall meeting last month. He said: “I think what residents around Camden Town are worried about is that if Camden Council no longer funds those officers to police the night-time economy, then actually the policing presence as far as they’re concerned will go down, and I think that would be a major worry.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Roper responded: “I completely understand that. Right now we do have them and I agree with the concerns. I can’t comment on what’s going to happen in the future.” Mr Fagg said yesterday: “It’s very clear from council mood music that Camden intends to devote funds from the late-night levy to a non-police commercial warden provider to patrol Camden’s night-time economy, rather than fund warranted police officers.”

Labour crime chief Councillor Jonathan Simpson said: “Central government funding cuts have left us needing to take some difficult decisions regarding council services and what we fund. The existing funding we provide to the Police Camden Tasking Team will continue for a further six months. During this time we will be considering all options available and working closely with local stakeholders, the police, and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, to discuss how we collectively prioritise resources in future. This will ensure we continue to support residents and visitors at the highest risk of harm.”