Banks typically pay them commission, borrowers use them in the belief they (the broker) can get them the best deal from several competing banks based on their specific circumstances. And naturally, because banks don't want to lose money, can pass the costs on to borrowers, eventually.
As I recall, this is only the latest in several incidents over the last decade in which Police officers have been killed either by passing motorists (where the fault is the motorist) or by stepping back into a traffic lane and being hit by a passing car. One can only wonder just what their risk assessment is. As a train driver, I can't even go within 3m of a railway line without some form of protection on that line (even if it is simply another bloke acting as a lookout, but you can never be your own lookout), yet up until a few months ago, Police thought it was ok to pull over a motorist and not only put themselves at risk, but the motorist as well, with traffic passing at 110kph only a few feet away...
Am I the only one who sees an issue with that?