Privatisation of police: Themes from australia

Abstract

This chapter examines the role of private security personnel in the contemporary provision of security and protection services in Australia. Drawing on previous extensive work by the authors, the analysis explores several partnerships between the public police and private security personnel, identifying factors upon which good cooperative public/private partnerships can be and are being built. In so doing, the discussion identifies a range of health, safety and welfare risks that both security personnel, as well as those with whom they come into contact, are exposed to as a result of their routine practices. It also considers whether current regulatory models meet the required standards of acceptable transparency and accountability. The chapter concludes by suggesting how the law may need to be adjusted to accommodate better the changing nature of the public/private policing landscape.