PRIVATE security teams who patrol York and Selby neighbourhoods on the look out for nuisance behaviour and street crime can increase the police's workload and confuse residents, according to a report published today.

Researchers for the York-based Joseph Rowntree Foundation said pressure for more beat bobbies across Yorkshire and Humberside had led to more patrols by privately-employed security guards.

But they warned that the roles of rangers and other security services, including police community support officers (PCSOs), were often "unclear" and the public are did not know what to expect of them.

Professor Adam Crawford, of the University of Leeds, said initiatives such as Neighbourhood Watch and ranger patrols extended the reach of community policing, but could also increase officer workloads.

He said residents often had very high expectations of extra security services which were "shattered" by reality.

"You're not going to be able to have an officer at the end of every street. Managing people's expectations and letting people know what can be achieved are essential elements of these schemes," he said.

All but one of York's wards voted for extra security patrols in the form of rangers or PCSOs in this year's round of local area budgets. Six new PCSOs will join the Safer York Partnership in the summer.

Most patrols take place in the evening and cost about £11.50 an hour. They use cameras to record offences and suspicious behaviour and can be called to give evidence in court.

Ian Crawford, of Mayfair Security, York's biggest ranger provider, said his employees, who received 663 calls from the public and police between July 2003 and March 2004, played a major role in cutting crime.

He said the patrols "filled the gap" between no support and a full emergency police response for minor nuisance problems.

Robin Stannard, who runs Leisure Vend security for Rawcliffe, Clifton Without and Skelton, said his patrol clocked up 40 miles a night and had a good relationship with residents.

He recommended that "regional policing boards" were introduced to help co-ordinate the "extended policing family".

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, April 28, 2004