How to Start and Run Your Own Security Business

This book provides possible solutions to the problems of how to protect people, property, and premises. It is expected to serve as a resource to security entrepreneurs and managers. It is also intended to serve as a teaching handbook and instruction manual for teachers. It contains detailed information on how to start and run a security business. This book is aimed at improving security and the feeling of safety in business premises and communities. It addresses the issues of crime and fear of crime throughout. The later chapters are specifically dedicated to dealing with the threats of terrorism and organised crime through risk management strategies. Central to the crime reduction strategies is the partnership between the police, the community and the private sector. It explains the importance of 'territoriality' and how people can take responsibility to protect their territories through vigilance and access control. In this regard, it deals with patrolling, access control, CCTV, and electronic security systems. It also covers how to provide private security in the hospitality industry; hotels, nightclubs, bars, restaurants and sports venues. It covers how the public police can work with managers of these venues to provide policing in these areas and other high crime areas. It covers the need for effective communication between partners and between personnel. It contains recommended operational procedures for radio use in communication. Other areas covered are; the civil and criminal law, arrest, searching, Health and safety procedures, fire awareness and emergency procedures. Towards the end, the book discusses 'business continuity management'. This aims to reduce the post-incident impact of disasters and emergencies in organisations. The book finishes with instructions on how personnel can report and record incidents in the workplace. It also deals with issues of evidence and how to preserve a crime scene. The summary chapter in tabular form, summarises the functions security personnel are expected to perform in various roles and venues. The book is well researched and academic references are provided in the last pages.In the end readers will find that this book not only identifies contemporary security problems, but offers solutions. In an era where businesses are hit by drops in profit and security companies are either closing down or merging, this book provides an opportunity for the business owner to train his own in-house security team. For the businesses that want to transfer risks to third parties, it provides an opportunity for individuals to set up as entrepreneurs and compete for contracts with established security firms. Overall the book aims at expanding private sector policing, especially in countries with limited policing budget. There is need for professionalism in the private security sector around the world. It is vital that owners of land and property can afford the services of the private security to complement the role of the public police. It is hoped that, if widely and correctly implemented, the number of ungoverned spaces will reduce. Shrinking the number of ungoverned spaces would displace certain organised crimes such as terrorism and kidnapping. It is only then that surveillance and vigilance could play a meaningful role in the crime prevention.Finally, this book is based on UK security principles. It is hoped that countries will adapt it to their own social, cultural and economic context. It is also intended to make it easy for countries to adapt contents to their own rules and regulations. The author, to the extent possible limits any reference to law to the common laws applicable in common law countries, with little or no emphasis on statutes. The writing style adopted in this book is intended to make it easy to understand by anyone with or without prior knowledge or experience of working in the private security industry.