SURREY Chief Constable Lynne Owens has dismissed as "nonsense" any suggestion that a private sector company could soon take over from the bobby on the beat on the county's streets.

The police chief spoke out after "misleading" national media coverage at the weekend about joint discussions Surrey and West Midlands police are involved in with the private sector.

It was claimed that, in a move to save money the cash-strapped forces would contract security firms to take over investigating crimes, patrolling streets and detaining suspects.

For full story, see this week's Farnham Herald.