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Nationalist vigilante 'street patrol' groups with ties to Reform UK and the far right are falsely claiming to be working with the police, while seeking to infiltrate local school networks in order to "protect" women and children, Byline Times can reveal.

Earlier this year we revealed how one such group, the Essex Spartans had been seeking to recruit "boots on the ground" for its "volunteer service protecting vulnerable residents, particularly women, children, and the elderly".

The group is based in Epping, near the scene of this year's far right protests over the hosting of asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel. They claim to be a local grassroots organisation, but in reality have ties to senior far-right figures across the UK, with its founder having a history of extreme racist and Islamophobic views, including expressing a desire to "start my own rebellion" in order to "kick all" Muslim people out of the country.

The group's social media profiles carry pictures of its uniformed members touring the streets in stab proof vests, and in one case carrying handcuffs, in order to "protect" local women and children, in claimed "partnership" with the police.

However, the local council and local police deny any involvement with the group.

Since our earlier reporting on the group, a number of other connected groups have sprung up both in Essex and elsewhere in the country, claiming to be "collaborating" with the Essex Spartans.

Offering what can be defined as "concierge nationalism" these groups advertise walk-you-home escorts, street patrols, SOS apps and premium mentorship through QR codes and subscription models.

However, in recent months their activity has escalated into an attempt to infiltrate local school networks, prompting serious safeguarding concerns.

Enemies at the Gates

Documents seen by Byline Times show that the Essex Spartans contacted at least one educational trust responsible for several schools in Epping Forest. They introduced themselves as a new "Community Interest Group" claiming to work with police to make local streets safer.

The services they offered included patrols around schools at drop-off and collection times, meetings with school leaders, and information letters for parents. They described members as being DBS checked, uniformed, carrying ID badges, and using a QR code system linking calls directly to police. The trust declined the offer.

The group's founder Jack Golding has claimed to be working "in partnership with Essex police".

However, the police have denied any connection to the group. Chief Superintendent Leighton Hammett of Essex Police told Byline Times: "While we are aware of this group, we are not affiliated with them, we do not endorse or promote their activity, and we do not work with them.

This directly contradicts the group's claims.

Councillor Joel Charles, Harlow Council's Cabinet Member for Public Protection, told local news site Your Harlow: "It is not normal practice for an organisation, not known to the council, to start patrolling the town. Members of the council's community safety team already carry out a significant amount of community engagement work and join patrols with police officers in known crime hotspot areas.

"Volunteers representing Essex Spartans have recently been approaching vulnerable people in the town. Anyone feeling unsafe, in a state of distress or facing the prospect of being homeless can access advice and support from official sources."

An Extremist History

Essex Spartans claim their members are DBS checked. However, the only evidence offered is a Facebook montage of certificates that lack official seals and reference numbers. The group also admits that not all members hold Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences, saying only licensed members may carry handcuffs. UK law ...