NCJ Number
93795
Date Published
1983
Length
107 pages
Annotation
Seminar papers presented by private security professionals, police, public officials, and researchers addressed many facets of the private security industry, including relationships with the police and government regulation.
Abstract
The director of the Australian Institute of Criminology highlighted problems caused by the rapid growth of the private security firms, commenting that the industry should take the initiative for establishing standards. In contrast, the next speaker described components of the Australian security industry and portrayed it as an industry that realizes its responsibilities, has established standards, and cooperates with the police. A researcher surveyed problems encountered in investigating private security in Australia, such as defining the industry, the lack of empirical data, and poor response to questionnaires from firms. The next paper discussed the rapid growth of private security in Canada and how it may represent a revolution in policing. This speaker and others noted that private security firms often exercise powers, such as search and surveillance, that would not be tolerated from public police. Another essay placed private security in a broad context, arguing that the meaning of crime and public attitudes toward police are derived from an era's social and moral climate. Police officers predicted that private police firms will continue to grow as police numbers are restricted by the government. While they felt private police had an important role as an adjunct for normal police services, these officers also emphasized that persons in the industry must be properly trained and controlled. The report summarizes comments on each paper as well as a general discussion. Many papers include references. A list of seminar partcipants is appended.