- statistics (2001)
- 995,000 workers or more security guards,
31,000 private detectives, 9,00 gaming surveillance and investigation
personnel (perhaps three times as many as police officers)
- however, that number doesn't
include, for example, computer security.
- 13,000 firms
- Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates
it may grow 21-35% (base year: 2000) by 2008, especially due
to terrorism concerns, but Congressional
Research Service says overall security employment has declined
in past 5 years.
- consolidation of major firms:
in 2000, Pinkerton and Burns merged as did Allied Security and
SpectaGuard.Now, after another merger, Allied-Barton
has more than 60 offices, 2,100 customers nationwide, 37,000
employees, and Securitas, Swedish-based firm, has bought 8 leading
us firms since 1998, combining Pinkerton, Burns, Wells-Fargo
and others into Securitas
Security Services USA, Inc., with annual revenues in excess
of $2.5 billion, 100,000 employees and more than 600 branch offices
in US
- Security Magazine survey last year:
- 6 largest companies employ 189,000
full- and part-time officers.
- largest contract security guard
firm: $3.1 billion in guarding revenue.
- Most contracted security officers
work in corporate and office buildings, and retail environments.
- Firms also offer investigation
services, bodyguards and security system design and installation.
- Nearly 2 in 10 of guarding firms
bought another firm in 2000. 10% say they completed the purchase
of another firm in the first half of 2003.
- 95% said 9/11 led to more business
-- much of it temporary or part-time guards.
 (get the picture?? This is extremely important)
Controversy
about privatization of security
"The private security industry is largely unregulated;
its employees are often poorly trained, underpaid, and inadequately
screened; and they serve only those who hired them. While rent-a
cops are legally limited to observing, reporting and attempting
to deter crime a power which falls short of the authorized use
of force or the right to make an arrest the distinction is apt
to be lost on most citizens accosted by a uniformed private guard
waving a gun and security badge." --"Armed
and Dangerous: Private Police on the March"
- merchants in some cities hire
own police forces
- wealthy individuals live in
gated communities with private police
- growth of private malls patrolled
by private police
- private security firms were
relieved of airport security post 9/11
- critics says this can lead to
abuses, differing standards of protection and justice
- poorly regulated
- quality of training varies tremendously
- often double as receptionists
in office buildings
- low pay -- median was $17,570 in 2000.
- statistically, now the most dangerous
profession
- unarmed, lacking adequate protection
- high turnover: up to 400% in
some markets
- hard to attract quality applicants:
- "Security companies can't
get people at these wages, and we're in competition with the
McDonalds and the Wendy's of the world." -- Richard Marinaro,
Unico Security Services
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Security Management