Discuss the importance of private security.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. Even with increasing numbers of local, state, and federal law enforcement officers, the police do not have the ability to prevent every crime. Recognizing this, many businesses and citizens have decided to hire private guards for their properties and homes. In fact, according to ASIS International, an industry-research firm, demand for private security generates revenues of approximately $377 billion a year. More than 10,000 firms employing around 2 million people provide private security services in America, compared with about 1.1 million public law enforcement employees.As there are no federal regulations regarding private security, each state has its own rules. In several states, including California and Florida, prospective security guards must have at least forty hours of training. Ideally, a security guard-lacking the extensive training of a law enforcement agent-should only observe and report criminal activity unless use of force is needed to prevent a felony.As a rule, private security is not designed to replace law enforcement. It is intended to deter crime rather than stop it. A uniformed security guard patrolling a shopping mall parking lot or a bank lobby has one primary function-to convince a potential criminal to search out a shopping mall or bank that does not have private security. For the same reason, many citizens hire security personnel to drive marked cars through their neighborhoods, making them a less attractive target for burglaries, robberies, vandalism, and other crimes.