Private Policing

The second edition of Private Policing details the substantial involvement of private agents and organisations involved in policing beyond the public police. It develops a taxonomy of policing and explores in depth each of the main categories, examining the degree of privateness, amongst several other issues. The main categories include the public police; hybrid policing such as state policing bodies, specialised police forces and non-governmental organisations; voluntary policing; and the private security industry. This book explores how the public police and many other state bodies have significant degrees of privateness, from outright privatisation through to the serving of private interests. The book provides a theoretical framework for private policing, building upon the growing base of scholarship in this area. Fully revised, this new edition not only brings the old edition up to date with the substantial scholarship since 2002, but also provides more international context and several new chapters on: corporate security management, security officers, and private investigation. There is also a consideration of what the book calls the ‘new private security industry’ working largely in cyber-space. Bringing together research from a wide range of projects the author has been involved with, along with the growing body of private policing scholarship, the book shows the substantial involvement of non-public police bodies in policing and highlights a wide range of issues for debate and further research. Private Policing is ideal reading for students of policing and security courses, academics with an interest in private policing and security, and practitioners from security and policing.

"Professor Mark Button is now one of the world’s leading authorities - reflecting a career of interest - in private and non state policing. This book provides a scholarly commentary on the major issues impacting on modern day policing, drawing on his considerable insight and ability to critique theory and strategy. This book provides the how and why the public needs to recognise the role of different groups in protecting them. This is a must read book for all those with an interest in this area."Martin Gill, Professor of Criminology and Director of Perpetuity Research & Consultancy International (PRCI) Ltd"It is now a truism of policing studies that private security has eclipsed conventional public-sector police services in scope and influence. For example, much of the long-term reduction in crime rates internationally has been attributed to the work of the expanding industry, and security processes are now deeply embedded in all aspects of everyday life. It is also a truism that the field is under-researched and that government policy in the area has generally not been well-informed by the available science. From this perspective, this new edition is a very timely and welcome addition to the literature on private policing. As always, Mark Button delivers an unbiased factually-based account of his subject matter, with a keen eye for the practical implications for improved democratic management."Tim Prenzler, Professor of Criminology, School of Law, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia"Mark Button brings a remarkable amount of experience and insights to the forefront on issues relating to private policing which challenges the traditionally perceived notions of order maintenance and crime control by agents of the state. His approach to handling critical issues surrounding the less researched areas of private police and policing is expansive and comprehensive. This second edition integrates the transformations that have occurred in the past decade in this area by incorporating issues on crime and risk governance by private police in the cyber age. This volume is well structured with current issues in private policing and Mark Button handles these issues with scientific rigor targeting both scholars and the academic community in general."Mahesh Nalla, Ph.D., Professor, School of Criminal Justice Michigan State University"In this new edition, Professor Button builds on the growing literature that highlights the substantial contribution that private operatives make to the policing task world-wide. It should be compulsory reading for all modern policing scholars."Rick Sarre, Professor, School of Law, University of South Australia

Mark Button is a Professor of Criminology at the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth and Director of the Centre for Counter Fraud Studies. He has been studying private policing for over 25 years and has worked for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on developing international standards for civilian private security.