By John Guinn

Copyright bbc

Mr McCormack told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I actually agree it is very worrying, I would much rather not be spending £10,000 a month on private security.

“What Bedford requires is more funding for policing, not excuses.”

He said the guards “are not thugs or a ‘paramilitary wing of a coffee shop'”.

They were licensed professionals from Belmont Security, a long-established firm that has run security for the local business improvement company, the Bedford Park Concerts, and numerous local businesses, he said.

“Nobody objected then, but now that they are protecting families and shopkeepers, suddenly it is a problem.”

The panel heard that Bedfordshire Police’s own summer safety campaign had resulted in 121 fines for anti-social behaviour in the town centre and 34 arrests.