The Use of Private Security Services for Policing
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The Use of Private Security Services for Policing by Ruth Montgomery and Curt Taylor Griffiths RESEARCH REPORT: 2015–R041 RESEARCH DIVISION www.publicsafety.gc.ca Abstract This paper examines the intersections between private security and public policing, with an emphasis on those functions that private security are now performing that have traditionally been performed by the public police, as well as cooperative efforts between public police and private security. The research included a literature review of the roles, responsibilities of private and public policing in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, a review of relevant Canadian legislation, and interviews with key individuals in Canadian government, private security, policing, and police governance organizations. Author’s Note The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Public Safety Canada. Correspondence concerning this report should be addressed to: Research Division Public Safety Canada 340 Laurier Avenue West Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P8 Email: [email protected]. Acknowledgements The project team would like to thank those individuals who were interviewed for the study. Their candid and insightful observations on the state of private security in Canada comprise a core component of this report. Product Information © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2016 Cat. PS113-1/2015-45E-PDF ISBN Number: 978-0-660-03495-9 THE USE OF PRIVATE SECURITY IN POLICING PUBLIC SAFETY CANADA 2 Table of Contents The Transformation of Policing and Growth of Private Industry ................................. 6 Core Policing ............................................................................................................................ 6 The Growth of the Private Security Industry ............................................................................. 7 Types of Private Security .......................................................................................................... 8 The Police and Private Security Environment ............................................................ 9 Private Security and the Economics and Sustainability of Policing ........................................... 9 Policing and the Costs of Crime .............................................................................................. 11 Outsourcing vs. Public Police-Private Security Partnerships .................................................. 12 Differences between Public Police and Private Security ......................................................... 13 The Role and Powers of Private Security Officers .................................................................. 15 Obstacles to the Development of Public Police-Private Security Partnerships ....................... 15 Opportunities for Public Police-Private Security Partnerships ................................................. 16 Private Security, Democratic Values, and the Public Good .................................................... 18 Privatization, Private Security and the Community ................................................................. 19 Oversight and Accountability of Private Security..................................................................... 21 The Effectiveness of Private Security ..................................................................................... 22 Training and Skill Levels of Private Security Personnel .......................................................... 23 The Limits of Private Security ................................................................................................. 24 Private Security and Privatization ............................................................................ 25 The United States ................................................................................................................... 25 Types of Private Security ...................................................................................... 27 Public Police-Private Security Partnerships.......................................................... 27 Training, Licensing and Certification ................................................................... 28 Australia .................................................................................................................................. 29 Training, Licensing and Regulation ...................................................................... 29 The Activities of Private Security ......................................................................... 31 Public Police-Private Security Partnerships.......................................................... 31 Concerns Surrounding Private Security ................................................................ 32 The Effectiveness of Australian Public Police-Private Security Partnerships ...... 33 New Zealand ........................................................................................................................... 33 United Kingdom ...................................................................................................................... 34 THE USE OF PRIVATE SECURITY IN POLICING PUBLIC SAFETY CANADA 3 Public Police-Private Security Partnerships.......................................................... 34 Selected Examples of Public Police-Private Security Partnerships ...................... 35 The Impact of Privatization and the Increased Role of Private Security .............. 36 The Lincolnshire Police-G4S Partnership ............................................................ 37 The Effectiveness of Privatization ........................................................................ 38 Privatization and Partnerships: Lessons Learned ................................................. 39 Canada ................................................................................................................................... 40 The Continuum of Canadian Policing...................................................................................... 41 The Economics of Policing and Private Security ................................................. 42 Private Security Functions .................................................................................... 43 Public Police-Private Security Collaboration ....................................................... 45 Police Resistance to Private Security .................................................................... 46 Montreal Airport Policing ..................................................................................... 46 University of Waterloo Police .............................................................................. 47 Canadian Private Security Legislation by Jurisdiction .............................................. 48 Licensing Authority ................................................................................................................. 48 Government Accountability ..................................................................................................... 49 Security Services Licensing .................................................................................................... 49 Licensing Requirements for Individuals and Agencies ............................................................ 50 Training ................................................................................................................................... 51 Mandated Training for Specialized Licenses .......................................................................... 51 Legislated Conduct Requirements .......................................................................................... 52 Complaint and Appeal Management ....................................................................................... 52 Licensee Reporting Requirements .......................................................................................... 53 Uniform, Vehicle, Equipment and Service Dog Regulations ................................................... 54 Prohibited and Restricted Equipment ...................................................................................... 55 Use of Dogs ............................................................................................................................ 55 Review of Legislative and Policy Guidelines for Private Security ............................................ 55 Governance, and Government Perspectives on Private Security ........................................... 56 Recruitment and Training ........................................................................................................ 58 Community Engagement ........................................................................................................ 58 Legislative and Regulatory Framework ................................................................................... 58 Collaboration ........................................................................................................................... 59 Oversight and Accountability .................................................................................................. 59 THE USE OF PRIVATE SECURITY IN POLICING PUBLIC SAFETY CANADA 4 Organized Crime ..................................................................................................................... 60 Areas for Policy Dialogue........................................................................................