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Growth, scandal and reform in the Australian security industry
Conference presentation

Growth, scandal and reform in the Australian security industry

Timothy Prenzler, Rick Sarre and Karen Earle
Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology (ANZSOC) Conference, 20th (Adelaide, Australia, 23-Sep-2007–26-Sep-2007)
2007
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http://www.anzsoc.org/View
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Abstract

Criminology
Police necessarily retain the major role in enforcing the law after crimes have been committed and offenders have been apprehended. However, given that public sector policing draws heavily on equipment supplied by private providers, and that public police officers have many offenders handed over to them by the private sector, private security could be considered 'the primary protective resource' - as argued by Pastor in the American context (Pastor 2003, p44). Despite this, there is very little information publicly available on the range, size and scope of security industries in Australia, and there is no comprehensive study of the growth of these industries, the functions of their different components, how they relate to each other, and the effectiveness of different regulatory strategies. Research currently being undertaken jointly at the University of South Australia and Griffith University which aims to provide a comprehensive study into these issues. The anticipated results of this research will be to provide options for improved private security regulation; improved safety for private security personnel and the public; clearer legal protection for security personnel; and advice on good models for private / public policing relationships. The research, for an ARC Linkage grant, began in January 2007 and is due to be completed by December 2009. Over the course of the project the researchers will conduct a number of surveys and interviews with regulatory agencies, private security organisations, police and key stakeholders. As the research evolves, detailed information will inform the development of discussion papers, recommendations for industry development and models of best practice.

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