NCJ Number
86611
Journal
Security World Volume: 19 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1982) Pages: 25-30
Date Published
1982
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Excerpts from a roundtable discussion comparing contract and proprietary guard programs cover selection, training, supervision, guard loyalty, and costs.
Abstract
The three participants presented the viewpoints of the proprietary guard user, the contract security service consumer, and the contract service agency. The initial debate over the benefits of proprietary forces versus contract forces revealed that many factors affect a guard staff's performance, such as company philosophy, a security director's background, and budget priorities. In discussing guard selection, all speakers felt that most contract users did not evaluate security proposals adequately and vested too much responsibility with the guard company. Topics addressed in the supervision field included terminating an employee, performance reviews, and training. While contracted guard services are more flexible in changing personnel and can offer training at lower costs, it is questionable whether the guards' loyalties lie with the contract security director or the client company. The representative from the contract security agency refuted the criticism that contract security is inferior because it usually is less expensive, commenting that both approaches encounter problems with guards becoming friendly with employees and not always reporting problems. Finally, participants agreed that the use of guard services was likely to increase in the future with the pace setter being a combination of in-house management and supervision and contract security services. They also felt that consumers of guard services should be educated about their roles in making a guard-based security program work, but disagreed over the consumer's desire for such education. A table comparing costs for contract and proprietary programs is provided.