NCJ Number
143585
Journal
Security Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 42-46,48
Date Published
1990
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This interview with William Cunningham, president of Hallcrest Systems, Inc., focuses on the findings of the Hallcrest Report II, a study of security trends to the 21st Century and that was funded by the National Institute of Justice.
Abstract
The report focuses on crime and security resources, the changing relationship between the police and private security, security personnel and issues, protective services and products, and influential trends. It noted that business crime now costs $114 billion per year and is increasing rapidly, especially in the areas of drug trafficking and drug abuse, computer-related crime, fraud, and employee theft. Business crime results in losses of tangible assets, reduced profits, increased cost of insurance and security, increased overhead, increased costs to government, and increased costs of consumer goods and services. Liability is the largest indirect cost. Private security employed 1.5 million people in 1990, including 1 million in contract security and the rest in proprietary security. Proprietary security is declining; the use of security consultants, engineers, equipment, and alarms is growing rapidly. Current issues include the need to improve training of security officers and the problem of false alarms. About 25 percent of security personnel now have limited police powers, although armed security will decline to 5 percent by the year 2000. Business is increasingly resolving crime privately, although little is known about the extent, effectiveness, or fairness of private justice. Figures, tables, and photographs