NCJ Number
128111
Journal
Security Management Volume: 35 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 50-52
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Collaboration and cooperation between the police and private security have increased in recent years and should continue to increase.
Abstract
The numbers of police and private security personnel were similar in 1975. However, the reluctance to raise taxes and calls to do more with less have kept the number of police stable since 1975, while the number of persons employed in private security has tripled. Both professions focus on personal safety, crime prevention, and order maintenance. The Hallcrest Report published by NIJ in 1985 also found that law enforcement officials, proprietary security managers agreed on the transfer of certain police-related activities to private security. These activities include response to burglar alarms, preliminary investigations, incident reports when victims decline prosecution, and transporting people taken in citizens' arrests. Private security may also increase its role in parking enforcement, school crossing protection, accident investigations, animal control, funeral escorts, and other activities. Both professions should explore further ways to cooperate for mutual benefit.