In the British community of Merryville, a commercial security firm provided foot and vehicle patrols. In examining the impact of these services, the first stage of the study was an ethnographic analysis of the commercial security company, which included researchers accompanying the guards on night-time patrols and day-time visits to customers to collect weekly payments. The ethnography was ongoing for 2 years, which facilitated observation of the evolution of the company and any change in its commercial status. In addition, interviews were conducted with senior police personnel to assess any strategic response to the emergence of private police in the force area. The second stage of the study was a community survey of residents who participated in the security scheme as well as those residents who chose not to pay for the security services. A total of 250 face-to-face interviews were conducted with residents, with 111 (44 percent) being subscribers to the commercial security program. The issues addressed were the fear of crime, the impact of private guards, civil liberties, accountability, community effects, and the "guardianship" role in private security firms. Being a member of the security program and thus having the option to call upon the services of the guards had a significant impact on residents' assessment of the risk and threat posed by crime. The primary issue that emerges from this study, however, is the extent to which such private security schemes will be allowed to expand in serving the perceived security interests of affluent homeowners who can afford private security services. The Merryville experiences of private policing provides evidence of the tacit support from a majority of local residents for the private guards to target particular groups perceived as threats to the mental comfort of the residents. 2 tables and 28 references