Chapter 1 The Evolution of Private Security: A Brief History

1. Chapter 1The Evolution of Private Security:A Brief History

2. Introduction • Reith’s 4 phases in evolution of quest for security. • The search for collective security. • Need for rules and laws. • Some people would not obey laws. • The means to compel observance of rules found.

3. Private Security • Separation of private and public security happened in 19th century. • Private security evolved from need for additional, individual protection for humans and their property.

4. Ancient Times • Ancient people used physical security such as weapons, lake or cliff dwellings, walls and gates. • Example: Great Wall of China. • Rulers began to appoint enforcement people to help with public and private security. • Evolution of early police and fire protection.

5. The Middle Ages • Tithings-groups of 10 responsible for law and order in England. • With Norman Conquest came the Frankpledge system. • All free Englishmen had to swear to maintain the peace • 1215-Magna Carta gave Englishmen “due process” of law and created foundation for modern justice.

6. Middle Ages • 1285-Statute of Westminster established: • Watch and ward-town watchmen. • Hue and cry-response to resistance. • Assize of arms-weapons in the homes. • Merchants dissatisfied. • Hired private security.

7. The Eighteenth Century • Industrial Revolution brought more crime to cities. • Increased private policing. • Military used to suppress riots. • Magistrate system evolved. • Fielding-advocate of crime prevention. • Bow Street Runners-professional detective agency.

8. The Eighteenth Century • Pitt’s Reform Bill to establish a strong police force defeated. • Middlesex Justice Bill successful. • Colquhoun used statistics to argue for large police force. • He also established a private security force.

9. Nineteenth Century England • Sir Robert Peel’s Metropolitan Police Act created the London Metropolitan Police to prevent crime. • Two objectives: • Prevent crime and disorder. • Test of police efficiency is absence of crime and disorder.

10. Evolution of Private Security in US • Primary means of security in US-constables and night town watchmen. • Mid-1800s saw the first full-time police forces. • Private railroad security developed for interstate railway crime. • Alan Pinkerton developed contract security forces.

11. Other Security Advances • First electric burglar alarm systems-1853. • Central monitoring systems later in the century. • Brink established armored car and courier services. • Establishment of Burns’ Detective Agency.

12. The World Wars and the Depression • Fear of sabotage and espionage. • Private security very high during WWI. • Declined during depression. • WWII saw a significant increase in private security. • Heightened emphasis on government security. • Increase in plant security for industry.

13. Contemporary Private Security • Increase in governmental regulations. • Public police unable to meet all needs. • Development of Wackenhut Corporation-contract guard and investigative agency. • In-house security systems. • Preventive philosophy of private security. • By 1990s, private security a multibillion-dollar-a-year business.

14. Summary Questions • How has private security differed from public law enforcement throughout history? • Identify the security measures uses in ancient times, Middle Ages, Eighteenth Century England, Early Colonial America. • Identify the security established by the tithing system, the Frankpledge system, the Magna Carta, the Statute of Manchester.

15. Summary Questions • Identify contributions to private security made by Fielding, Colquhoun, Peel, Pinkerton, Brink, Burn, Wackenhut. • What role did railroad police play in the evolution of private security? • Discuss the impact of the world wars on private security. • What was the status of private security by the 1990s?