Public Policing Vs Private Security

Running Head: PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 1

COMPARISON OF THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITY OF PUBLIC POLICING

VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY

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Institution affiliation

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 2

Comparison of the roles and responsibility of public policing versus private security

Public policing is the service provided by a government at a local, county, state, or

federal levels while private security is the service which is provided by private entities

(Wuestewald & Steinheider, 2006). Over the years, the role of public policing has been evolving

to encompass many sectors. It first originated from private citizens who would volunteer to be

watchmen in their communities mostly during evening hours. The need for security continues to

soar today with many people, institutions, or organization needing some system where they can

be kept safe. The increase in some venues which hold a large number of people has also

facilitated the need for security. This includes sports ground, church, rallies, concerts, and other

large gatherings. Both public and private policing are needed to take care of people or keep them

safe at all times. However, for private policing, the need for accreditation association is

important and leadership to ensure that the sector grows to be effective within the criminal

justice system. Policies and procedures which are mutual will be beneficial for the two camps,

and it will assist both sides to grow. This paper will examine the similarities and differences

between the two types of policing, the difference in leadership, relationship between the two and

the criminal justice, and lastly, the essential policies for each role they play.

Differences and similarities between public and private policing

Public policing and private policing have the same function of taking care of people.

However, there are differences and similarities that arise between the two roles.

Differences

The first difference is that public policy is a service which is provided by the government

The service is provided at the county, state, the local town, or federal levels. The government

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 3

performs this function and the people who carry out public policing are paid by the respective

authorities. All people in that area are covered by the personnel who will be available during that

time. However, in private policing, the service is only provided by the private companies. The

companies target certain individuals that need protection. This includes certain premises. They

are only tasked with these areas or those people. They are also paid by these companies rather

than the government.

The second difference is public police need certification, and they follow a strict training

and need to have certain requirements. The government has set laws to govern the public police

so that they can perform according to the way the society wants. Their main objective is public

welfare and safety. In private police, some of the companies have strict training methods and

need certain requirements and certification while others do not meet such strictness. They have

few restraints from the government and society. Also, private police have limited powers

compared to public police who have been bestowed superior powers by the government.

Similarities

One of the similarities that the two service share is the general service they offer. Both

roles are tasked with protecting a certain individual, company, or a certain institution. Both

private and public police at times wear uniforms and at times, they wear plain clothes to fit in

with the public during investigations. The two roles command power over the people they are

supposed to protect against. Other similarities that the two policing unit have is patrolling,

investigative duties, and report writing (Larrabee, 2007).

The differences in leadership between private and public police

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 4

The public sector policing leadership style have evaluated and studied by researchers.

The most recent studies carried out for this type of policing show that the model is changing

from the way experience, bravery, wisdom, and integrity was the hallmark of this department

superior policing (Wuestewald & Steinheider, 2006). The new system of public police shows an

educated and a dynamic leader that studies the dispersed and teamwork leadership. Having this

kind of leadership, it transcends to a managerial like leadership where the responsibility of

leadership is shared with the subordinates. Having this kind of system leadership does not only

give the opportunity for new public police leaders but also it enhances the division-by-division

leadership in achieving a certain or common goal. Public policing uses the common traditional

structure where leadership is hierarchical and a one-dimensional one, from the top down. This

kind of leadership is popular in many countries, and it has been effective for a very long time.

Officers are sometimes required to work with the author to solve some complex cases or those

who need discretion.

In private policing, some of the common leadership styles of leadership are transactional

and transformational kind of leadership. Transactional type of leadership is where the focus is

on the role of organization, supervision, and group performance. The leader in this style

promotes compliance for his or her fellow police through both punishment and reward. The

subordinate coordination is set forth by standards, procedure, and policies. Transformational

leadership style in private policing is in the corporate environment that public relations are

important part of the position. There is a need to motivate the people being protected or

followers in this sector because they need to be assured of their security.

Relationship between private policing and public policing in the criminal justice system

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 5

The criminal justice holds public and private policing differently especially when it

comes to standards. Private police are held to the direction of their scope of employment. This

circumvents the borders which have been set for public police. Public police, on the other hand,

uphold law and order and are held by the burden of voluntary consent or probable cause when

initiating contact. The private police, therefore, have a wider scope or a broader enterprise when

compared to public police where their range is of functions is even wider. Private policing has

some restrictions which the public police do not have.

In Texas, for example, there is a body which regulates all private security officers (Texas

Department of Public Safety, 2006). The Private Security Bureau is responsible for regulating

the private security personnel, and it has the responsibility to monitor and issue out licensing

practices for those that want to start a private security team. This kind of board is, however, short

of funds, and they depend on the licensing fee from the private security firms. The law

enforcement does not fund this group although the criminal justice may arrest the leaders if the

private firms in the area engage in scrupulous activities or the public complain about them. For

public policing, only under extreme cases can they be taken to the court of law to answer for

some misdemeanor against the public. However, some of their cases are handled internally by

the police force. The criminal justice is mostly on their side rather than against them when it is

compared to private policing.

Essential Policies for private police and public police professionals

Guidelines and policies are essential for this profession. This is one of the most sensitive

profession in the country with health care. The policies for this professional require a clear set

goal which can accomplish a particular task while outlining the standards and objectives. The

public police are held to policy standards which are outlined by the federal and state law statutes.

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 6

The policies that are set allow for the public police to have boundaries so that they cannot

overstep such boundaries. These are the areas in which they have to operate within. The reasons

for the setting of these boundaries ensure that the public gets to trust the police public service

using evaluation and measured standard.

The essential policies that the public police use found on the order manual which is

entitled professional standards and ethics. This is a guide to acceptable behavior by the public

police. It is essential to have this policy in the public policing sector because of the roles and

responsibilities which are turning to goal oriented, and problem-solving professionals. For

private police, their policies are different from that of public officers. Licensing is the first

requirement for this group. The procedures for activities that need to be done daily need to be

obtainable and direct. The employer provides a mission and outlined goals which are discrete.

This policing has not been established to identify or know the need of the public sector, but for a

certain group or person. the private police only work to satisfy their clients or work to their

desires. They are limited by their employers who direct them on what to be done and what not to

be done.

Importance of comprehensive security plan with its key components

One of the important factors in policing is comprehensive security plan. Retaining private

police is important because it is hard to find others. People who hire the security personnel

sometimes have limited knowledge of what needs to be done or who needs to be hired thereby

ending with individuals who do not qualify (Maurer, 2009). The primary component of a security

plan includes risk management, policies and procedures environmental design, vulnerability

assessment, inspection, and management. Risk management is critical to the sector where

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 7

elements of security assessed, identified and prioritized. Considering the risk involved in

providing security and identifying the cost of protection is also essential to the private police.

In conclusion, public and private policies have similar characteristics while at the same

time having differences. The function of each however remains the same, and all need to follow

certain policies to keep within their boundaries. Each can also be prosecuted if they are found not

conforming to the set policies and standards. The two policing unit are essential to the society in

maintaining law and order. Without the lawlessness will be the order of the day in every part of

the country. While public police are essential for the society, private police also help to keep the

ever-growing population at bay and stop criminals who would have otherwise caused mass

problems for the people.

PUBLIC POLICING VERSUS PRIVATE SECURITY 8

References

Texas Department of Public Safety. (2006). Private Security Bureau. Retrieved from

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/psb/index.htm

Larrabee, A.K. (2007). The Debate on Private Versus Public Policing.

Retrievedfromhttp://www.associatedcontent.com/article/435971/the_debate_on_private_

versus_public.html?cat=49

Wuestewald, T. & Steinheider, B. (2006). From the Bottom Up: The Changing Face of Police

Leadership. Berkley Center for Criminal Justice. Retrieved from

http://www.law.berkeley.edu/centers/bccj/conferences/policereform/Changing%20Face.p

Maurer, R.D. (2009). How to Layer a Comprehensive Security Plan. SecurityInfo Watch.

Retrievedfromhttp://www.securityinfowatch.com/Corporate+%2526+Office+Parks+Colu

mns+%2526+Features/how-layer-a-comprehensive-security-plan

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Public policing vs Private security

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