'More than 2,500 citizens working for town halls and private security companies can hand out fines, take photographs of offenders and demand their names and addresses.

They are not accountable to the police, unless they break the law, and include car park attendants and dog wardens.

There are growing concerns among rank-and-file police officers that the powers granted under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme are “blurring the lines” of legitimate law enforcement.'

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