NCJ Number
61666
Journal
Assets Protection Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY/AUGUST 1979) Pages: 35-38
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A SHORT HISTORY OF PRIVATE SECURITY, THIS ARTICLE GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF THE SOCIAL EVENTS AND FORCES THAT HAVE SHAPED PRIVATE SECURITY SINCE ITS BEGINNINGS IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES.
Abstract
THE CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES THAT FORM THE BASIS FOR MODERN AMERICAN SECURITY ORIGINATED IN ENGLAND. EARLY AMERICAN COLONISTS INSTITUTED RATTLE WATCHES TO ENSURE PROTECTION AND REQUIRED EACH ADULT MALE IN THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE PERIODICALLY AS WATCHMAN. AS SECURITY PROBLEMS WORSENED, PUBLIC PRESSURE CAUSED THE FORMATION OF MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS WITH FULL-TIME PAID OFFICERS. BY THE LATE 1850'S, SEVERAL LARGE PRIVATE PROTECTION SERVICES EMERGED TO MEET SECURITY NEEDS OF BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY. IN 1857, THE BURGLAR ALARM WAS INVENTED AND BY 1889 ELECTRICALLY OPERATED PRIVATE PROTECTION WAS A WELL-ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY. THE LACK OF A NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY WAS REITERATED IN 1861 WHEN THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HIRED THE PINKERTON AGENCY AS THE ARMY'S INTELLIGENCE GATHERING UNIT. THUS, UNTIL THE EARLY 1900'S WHEN THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION WAS FORMED, INTERSTATE SECURITY WAS TOTALLY THE BAILIWICK OF PRIVATE INDUSTRY. IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1924, WHEN THE FBI WAS FORMED, THAT A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM OF CRIMINALITY. HOWEVER, PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCIES WERE STILL WIDELY USED TO PROTECT INDUSTRY ESPECIALLY DURING WORLD WARS I AND II. PRIVATE SECURITY CONTINUES TO GROW TODAY AT A STEADY RATE OF 10 TO 25 PERCENT ANNUALLY AND IT CONTINUES TO PROVIDE SERVICE THAT PUBLIC AGENCIES ARE UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO PROVIDE. NOTES AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)