PRIVATE POLICING - AN EXAMINATION OF IN-HOUSE SECURITY OPERATIONS - CANADA

• NCJ Number: 46273
• Author(s): F JEFFRIES
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 196 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Canada Solicitor General
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: WORKING PAPER OF THE CENTRE OF CRIMINOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, CANADA

Annotation

QUANTITATIVE DATA IS PRESENTED ON A NUMBER OF INHOUSE SECURITY OPERATIONS, AND SECURITY FUNCTIONS ARE DEFINED AND CATEGORIZED FOR THE BENEFIT OF FUTURE EMPIRICAL RESEARCH.

Abstract

THE SAMPLE FROM WHICH DATA WERE DRAWN CONSISTED OF 21 CANADIAN COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND 231 SECURITY PERSONNEL EMPLOYED BY THESE FIRMS. SOURCES FOR THE DATA WERE INTERVIEWS, PERSONAL DATA FORMS ON SECURITY PERSONNEL, AND DIRECT OBSERVATION OF THE SECURITY DEPARTMENT. SECURITY JOBS ARE DIVIDED INTO FOUR CLASSES AND CORPORATE FUNCTIONS: (1) CORPORATE MANAGERIAL, WHICH INITIATES SECURITY POLICY; (2) LOCATION SUPERVISORY, WHICH TRANSLATES SECURITY POLICY INTO PRACTICE; (3) LOCATION OPERATIONS, WHICH PRACTICES SECURITY POLICY; AND (4) LOCATION MAINTENANCE, WHICH SAFEGUARDS PHYSICAL SECURITY. PERSONAL DATA ON SECURITY PERSONNEL REVEALS THE AVERAGE AGE OF THE 231 RESPONDENTS TO BE 45.2 YEARS, WITH AVERAGE AGE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE OPERATIONS CLASS AND THE MANAGERIAL CLASS FALLING BELOW THE OVERALL AVERAGE. OF THE SAMPLE, 35.5 PERCENT HAVE NO HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION; 12.99 PERCENT HAVE ATTENDED UNIVERSITY; AND 16.9 PERCENT HAVE TAKEN COURSES AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL. RELEVANT OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING DATA SHOW THAT 29.4 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING FROM PUBLIC POLICE AGENCIES, WHILE 37.2 PERCENT RECEIVED TRAINING FROM ONE OF THE ARMED FORCES. THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE SAMPLE COMES DIRECTLY TO INHOUSE SECURITY POSITIONS FROM NONSECURITY-RELATED JOBS. THE NATURE, STRUCTURE, AND FUNCTIONS OF SECURITY DEPARTMENTS ACCORDING TO THE LOCATION THEY ARE DESIGNED TO SERVE ARE ALSO EXAMINED. THOSE STUDIED ARE A MANUFACTURING PLANT, RETAIL OUTLET, HOTEL, AND REGIONAL OR CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE. EIGHT FACTORS DEEMED TO HAVE A DETERMINING EFFECT ON THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF SECURITY OPERATIONS ARE ISOLATED FOR DISCUSSION: NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES; PHYSICAL STRUCTURE AND AREA; LOCATION; NATURE OF THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE; UNION; HISTORICAL TRADITION AND COMPANY POLICY; PERSONALITY AND BACKGROUND OF THE SECURITY DIRECTOR; AND COMPANY STRUCTURE IN TERMS OF REPORTING. AVERAGE SECURITY STAFF PROFILES FOR EACH MODEL ARE DEVELOPED FROM THE PERSONNEL CENSUS DATA. THE APPENDIXES CONTAIN A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF CRIMINOLOGY, A STATEMENT TO THE SECURITY DIRECTOR, A CONSENT FORM, A FORMAT FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH A SECURIY DIRECTOR, A CENSUS FORM, AND DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ACCORDING TO POSITION. (RCB)