A CONTROVERSIAL security firm has expanded its service and last night began patrolling a new area.

Up to six Sparta Streetsafe wardens will patrol the West End of Darlington every night.

The uniformed patrols will cover the Mowden, Hummersknott and Blackwell areas.

They will offer subscribing residents a response to calls about anti-social behaviour and suspicious activity, as well as a holiday home watch service and automatic burglar alarm response.

Sparta staff have no more powers than any other member of the public, but are all qualified door staff and trained in conflict management.

The controversial scheme, implemented by Darlington businessman and former professional boxer Francis Jones, involves residents paying up to £3.50 a week for Sparta’s services.

While some say Sparta is only capitalising on residents’ fear of crime, Mr Jones said there was a demand for the service.

He said thousands of leaflets distributed in Darlington’s West End prompted a good response from residents.

He said: “Since we began our patrols in Eastbourne and Skerne Park, we have been taking calls from people in the West End of Darlington wanting to sign up.

“Now we are able to offer them that extra pair of eyes and ears on the street. We will respond to any calls quickly because we will be just around the corner.”

Mr Jones is preparing to address politicians and senior police officers at a debate in Westminster next month.

He was invited to speak at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum event on Thursday, March 18, following national media coverage of Sparta’s work.

He said: “The message I want to get across is that we are not a private police force, we have no powers of arrest, we have no CS gas or handcuffs, but we are the 21st-Century Neighbourhood Watch.

“We are the eyes and ears of the police and the eyes and ears of our clients.”

The event is aimed at shaping policy on the future of policing in Britain.