Contemporary Private Security - Research Paper Example

Contemporary Private Security al Affiliation Contemporary Private Security According to Security InfoWatch (2008), one of the biggest challenges facing contemporary private security services is standardization. The security sector is not standardized at all. Post 9/11 attacks, many organizations seek to defend themselves against terrorist attacks in all possible ways However, the issue of great demand an insufficient supply has brought about challenges of security companies employing anyone who looks like a security officer; even without licensing. Background checks and training information has only been made available to law enforcement officers, through the National Crime and Information Center (NCIC) except in states like Arizona and Florida. Issues dealing with training of security personnel require urgent standardization. Training practices differ greatly depending on the security company or the state. Unfortunately, most requirements focus on quantity rather than quality. Standardization is paramount since it gives the officers a chance to look at security services, not just as a job but also as a career or a profession. When they become invested in it that much, a sense of pride and accountability arises that makes them want to dedicate themselves to their work. Inadequate training of security personnel is not a matter that ought to be taken lightly. Officers that are not properly trained pose a danger, not just to the clients they serve but also to themselves and the general public. This problem can perhaps be blamed on clients who demand a ‘one-size-fits-all’ kind of officer who is supposed to be able to deal with a types of security threats regardless of what they were trained to do; all this with minimal or not protective weapon! It is important that the personal security of an officer should never be compromised simply because the prospective client is hesitant to employ adequate security personnel or provide the necessary gear for the officer to protect him/herself. Currently, there exist grave inconsistencies in regulations between states regarding the issue of private security. Legislative groups like ASIS, NASCO and IASIR have attempted to improve the situation but the general opinion is that the battle will only be won once there is a national standard to be followed by all states. This standard ought to include background screening for all states and at least the ASIS guidelines for the training and selection or Private Security officers. It is probably only through legislation that such a national security standard will be attained. However, before that happens, some level of professionalism in uniformed security personnel ought to be injected to elevate the business and security standards in the profession. Rabena from Security InfoWatch opines that training standards, if standardized, would revolutionize the security industry. According to her, the level of training should not be categorized according to the number of hours trained but rather the material taught and the knowledge that has been retained. The inconsistencies between officers in the public and private sectors, and across different states can be attributed to the reluctance and lack of commitment by both the government and security companies to develop a national standard that ought to be achieved by officers from both private and public security companies. Shanon, also from security InfoWatch adds that apart from standardization, there are also issues of lack of consistent, on-going training and lack of cost-effective delivery of services which prevent the security industry in the United States from reaching a level that would enable it to operate securely in today’s global scene. It is also important to factor the issue of standardized working environments, including the tools of trade. It is saddening when clients hire few officers, underpay them and still not give them enough protective gear for themselves thereby putting them under constant risk. Formation of workers unions would also be an appropriate step to take to give the officers appropriate representation for advocacy of their workers’ rights. The other issue affecting the security industry is elevated levels of technology. As criminals become more hi-tech, security personnel are required to keep-up. And they have; almost adequately. However, it has increasingly become urgent for the government of the United States to lias with the private sector to come up with cheaper, faster and more effective security solutions. According to Private Security Training Network (2013), training and educating security personnel should shift from the traditional book-based approach to e-learning. Several other aspects of technology ought to be incorporated in there to keep up with the need for more advanced education. The 2011 Industry Association Government Summit in Washington DC was flooded with opinions that seemed to suggest that it was time the federal government allowed the private sector to assist it to deal with matters of security technology. Dr. Cellucci, who is a savant in all matters security, suggested that it is paramount to provide products and services to first responders and various government agencies. According to him, the answer lies in the public-private (sector) liaison. Apparently, the federal government has fallen short with regard to creativity and provision of new cutting-edge technology. According to ABC’s Scott Thuman (2014), private security provides protection to CEOs, athletes and even personalities that are not considered house-hold names. The amount spent on such hi-tech security has increased from $100,000 to $500,000. When the personnel are so good, they even provide security for former heads of state and no one will know. The private sector comes up with solutions that are within the budget and required time-frame. For instance, the use of passwords is slowly being phased out in favor of a less-cumbersome, less-complex sign-n card solution. This in effect reduced the rate of computer intrusion to more than 46%! The success of this co-operation between the government and the private sector cannot be underestimated. It is bound to bring bigger revolution in the security industry if law enforcement can stay steps head of criminals and possible terrorists. According to the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services), the diversity of the private security sector is often erroneously underrated. With an annual budget of close to $100 billion, the federal and state organs spend less than half of that, hence the need for them to collaborate with private security bodies. Since both parties share the same goals, i.e preventing crime, identifying criminals and protecting both people and property, it is safe to say that the relationship between the two factions will produce mostly positive results. Granted, there will be challenges involved which include the issue of national security which cannot be entrusted to private firms. However, the bulk of the matter remains that when it comes to technology, the private sector beats the federal sector hands- down and for the sake of national good, the government ought to find ways in which this can be encouraged, because ultimately, it’s a win-win situation if all matters security are sorted. Reference List Thurman, S. (2014, May 20). A glimpse into the high-priced world of private security and technology. Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/05/a-glimpse-into-the-high-priced-world-of-private-security-and-technology-103319.html The Changing Role of Private Security | SecurityInfoWatch.com. (2008, October 27). Retrieved April 2, 2015, from http://www.securityinfowatch.com/article/10517289/the-changing-role-of-private-security Technology-Enhanced Learning in Canadas Private Security Sector. (2013). 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