Chapter 1
The Evolution of Private Security:
A Brief History
Introduction
 Reith’s 4 phases in evolution of quest for
security.




The search for collective security.
Need for rules and laws.
Some people would not obey laws.
The means to compel observance of rules
found.
Private Security
 Separation of private and public security
happened in 19th century.
 Private security evolved from need for
additional, individual protection for humans
and their property.
Ancient Times
 Ancient people used physical security
such as weapons, lake or cliff dwellings,
walls and gates.
 Example: Great Wall of China.
 Rulers began to appoint enforcement
people to help with public and private
security.
 Evolution of early police and fire
protection.
The Middle Ages
 Tithings-groups of 10 responsible for law
and order in England.
 With Norman Conquest came the
Frankpledge system.
 All free Englishmen had to swear to
maintain the peace
 1215-Magna Carta gave Englishmen “due
process” of law and created foundation for
modern justice.
Middle Ages
 1285-Statute of Westminster established:
 Watch and ward-town watchmen.
 Hue and cry-response to resistance.
 Assize of arms-weapons in the homes.
 Merchants dissatisfied.
 Hired private security.
The Eighteenth Century
 Industrial Revolution brought more crime





to cities.
Increased private policing.
Military used to suppress riots.
Magistrate system evolved.
Fielding-advocate of crime prevention.
Bow Street Runners-professional detective
agency.
The Eighteenth Century
 Pitt’s Reform Bill to establish a strong
police force defeated.
 Middlesex Justice Bill successful.
 Colquhoun used statistics to argue for
large police force.
 He also established a private security
force.
Nineteenth Century England
 Sir Robert Peel’s Metropolitan Police Act
created the London Metropolitan Police to
prevent crime.
 Two objectives:
 Prevent crime and disorder.
 Test of police efficiency is absence of crime
and disorder.
Evolution of Private Security in US
 Primary means of security in USconstables and night town watchmen.
 Mid-1800s saw the first full-time police
forces.
 Private railroad security developed for
interstate railway crime.
 Alan Pinkerton developed contract security
forces.
Other Security Advances
 First electric burglar alarm systems-1853.
 Central monitoring systems later in the
century.
 Brink established armored car and courier
services.
 Establishment of Burns’ Detective Agency.
The World Wars and the
Depression
 Fear of sabotage and espionage.
 Private security very high during WWI.
 Declined during depression.
 WWII saw a significant increase in private
security.
 Heightened emphasis on government
security.
 Increase in plant security for industry.
Contemporary Private Security
 Increase in governmental regulations.
 Public police unable to meet all needs.
 Development of Wackenhut Corporationcontract guard and investigative agency.
 In-house security systems.
 Preventive philosophy of private security.
 By 1990s, private security a multibilliondollar-a-year business.
Summary Questions
 How has private security differed from public law
enforcement throughout history?
 Identify the security measures uses in ancient
times, Middle Ages, Eighteenth Century
England, Early Colonial America.
 Identify the security established by the tithing
system, the Frankpledge system, the Magna
Carta, the Statute of Manchester.
Summary Questions
 Identify contributions to private security
made by Fielding, Colquhoun, Peel,
Pinkerton, Brink, Burn, Wackenhut.
 What role did railroad police play in the
evolution of private security?
 Discuss the impact of the world wars on
private security.
 What was the status of private security by
the 1990s?