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Policy Issues Affecting Private Security

The private security industry is very complex due to the the diversity of the issues involved. A private security company operates in customer service, business management and in some cases law enforcement. There are strict legal requirements in many states for officers getting properly licensed, and security companies frequently need to work with business clients, the police department and the local media. Policy issues affect the private security industry on a near daily basis.

  1. Certification

    • Every state has its own laws regarding a security officer's requirement for a license but the majority require officers to be state licensed prior to beginning their job duties. Officers have to complete a state-certified course, take an exam and pass a background check to ensure they do not have any felonies on their records. As a result, there can be a lead time of several weeks from when an officer is hired to when he can legally work. This requires security companies to anticipate their staffing needs in advance so they have officers ready to meet demand. This also makes it more difficult to hire employees since some are screened out during the licensing process.

    Powers of Arrest

    • A security officer is not a police officer and should never identify himself as one or be mistaken as one. However, a security officer can rightfully make a private-person's arrest if he has just cause and his arrest is then investigated by the police department. Every client or property has their own policies regarding whether they want officers to participate in arrests and under what conditions such arrests are warranted. Loss prevention is very common cause of arrest in private security since public shopping areas suffer from frequent shoplifting. A security officer's primary function is simply to observe and report activity but he should be aware of his company and client's policies regarding arrests and when they are or are not warranted. This also applies when confronted with the risk of terrorist attack and what the proper response should be with law enforcement.

    Private Property

    • Private security companies are frequently contracted to protect a private establishment or complex. Security supervisors are therefore representing the wants and needs of that property's management when they are on active duty so all officers need to be fully aware of what the property policies are concerning deliveries, prohibited conduct and other activity. A security supervisor will normally have the legal authority to represent the property he is serving when talking with other employees of the property and when dealing with emergency services. Failure to properly enforce the client's policies for the property could result in a cancellation of the contract and a possible lawsuit.

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