The growing number of private security companies policing the UK's streets is concerning and causes confusion for members of the pubic, senior police figures have warned.

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, who lives in Oxfordshire, said there should be no role for the private sector in law enforcement in Britain, and the Police Federation, which represents officers, urged authorities to be "wary" about giving them power.

The private security firms usually charge residents to patrol streets in a bid to deter troublemakers.

Simon Reed, vice chairman of the Police Federation, told the BBC: "We have got people who have certain powers, we are going to see them in uniform.

"Potentially there is confusion there for the public and who are they actually accountable to?

"I understand the public's fear of crime but actually it's the police who patrol public space and we should be very wary about giving those powers to private security companies."

Sir Ian added that more use should be made of community officers and civilians working within the police.

He said: "I do not see community safety as a commodity to be bought and sold and therefore we shouldn't be having the private sector in policing.

"Unless we get this right, we will end up with private security coming in and they will work for the rich and the poor will go without."