Chapter 2

Origins and Development of Security

Goal: To understand the origins and development of security; to know some of the past and present concerns facing security managers.

Objectives:

• Explain the development of security in England.
• Identify how police and security functions evolved both in Europe and the U.S.
• Identify the dates and events of historical significance in the growth and development of protective services.
• Identify the growth of the field and why it is growing.
• Explain the factors responsible for the separation of public and private police functions.
• Identify trends in security including growth, government involvement and professionalism.

Lecture:

The concept of security is certainly not new in the history of mankind.  Cavemen probably used rocks across the openings to their caves or perhaps dogs or other animals to protect themselves, the families, and their possessions.  At the end of this page there are links to a two part article on the history of security.  I noted at least one typo (see if you can find it) but the article is a good summary.

Ancient times: cliff dwellers (these people lived high from the valley floor and an intruder would have to scale those heights to get to them); walls such as the  Great Wall of China: 15 years, 500,000 workers.

Middle Ages: Feudalism and security through group solidarity. Mutual responsibility for protection, loyalty. Anglo Saxons: mutual responsibility- groups of ten families (these groupings were known as "tithings").

1215: Magna Carta: Law over edict. Please look up and understand the difference between a law and an edict.) "Due process."

(Do any of you know about the "Star Chamber" and its proceedings?)

1285: Statute of Westminster: Watch and Ward, Hue and Cry, Assize of Arms.

Note: if you visit the old walled German city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, you can take part in the walk of the Night Watchman.  He is dressed in Medieval costume, armed with a halberd, and at dark he leaves the one of the town gates to make a circuit of the outer walls of the town.  He is on the lookout for potential attackers, robbers, and fires.  The latter, of course, were real concerns in the days of thatched roofs, open fires, and other sources of heat and fuel.

Modern Times: 18th century: Industrialization. Work moved from the farm and homes to factories. Uncontrolled growth of cities, crime. Deterioration of social control. Henry Fielding. Sir Robert Peel.  Peel's name survives today in the term "Bobby," still used in England to refer to a police officer. Private police were also in use to protect factories.  After the recent bombings we saw many Bobbies on the streets but now they all are heavily armed.  Years ago they carried only whistles and nightsticks.

Note that industrialization brought not only progress but also problems.  The early factories were not pleasant places.  Nor were the places many workers lived pleasant. They'd left farm and field for a better life, sometimes after an arduous ocean voyage from Europe.  Did you see the movie, "Gangs of New York?"  It's a fictionalized version of the story told in a book published in 1927:The Gangs of New York: An Informal History of the Underworld.  The author, Herbert Asbury, graphically describes the deplorable living conditions of the late 1800's and early 1900's Factories were dirty and dangerous places.  Employees were abused.  Streets were littered with waste, dead horses, etc.  Those were not the "good old days."  Workers sought better conditions and pay and that led to unionization.  Unionization often led to strikes.  Many of those were violent events and caused further security problems.

Private security in America: Holmes, Brink, Wells & Fargo, Pinkerton (Alan Pinkerton served as an intelligence operative for the Union in the Civil War), Burns- many of these names are still part of the language of the security profession.  For example, you've probably seen a Brinks truck outside a bank. The Hallcrest Reports:  There are two Hallcrest Reports.  You'll read about Hallcrest II on page 29 in your text.  They will also be mentioned at other places in the text.  If you really want to dig into them, you may go to the Weber State Library and check them out.  However, unless you are really serious about statistics regarding private security, I'm sure you can find other things to devote your time and effort to!

What are some of the concerns or problems facing private sector (and government) security professionals today?  In my view:

• Sometimes our management doesn't understand what we do.  That's often our fault.  We need to find legitimate ways to get "face time" with upper management.  This means briefings, serving on committees where security has a role to play, etc.

• Money is a problem.  In most cases, security is what is called an overhead or indirect cost.  It is usually not a profit center.  That is, it costs money, it doesn't make money. (Companies have other organizations in the same boat, e.g., Human Resources, Maintenance, Information Systems).  When costs need to be reduced, Security and other overhead organizations are often adversely affected. 9/11 didn't really change this fact although it did make it a little easier to hold on to existing staff levels and make some security upgrades.

• Related to money is the relatively low pay for the lower levels of the security organization.  Security officers (I don't like the term "guards" so try not to use it.  Maybe we'll set up a fine system to keep you from using that "g word") often among the lowest paid employees in a company.  This is often true for both proprietary and contract employees.

• Turnover - security officers sometimes get tired of the shift work and lower pay and, when eligible, they apply for and obtain "better" jobs in the company.  This means hiring and training replacements.

• Morale in security organizations is sometimes low, related to some of the issues above.  In addition, security is not always popular.  When a security officer tells an employee he or she must open a briefcase for inspection or issues the person a security violation notice, the security officer is sometimes perceived as a "bad guy."  Perhaps you have gotten peeved by a security officer at the airport who has delayed you while he or she searched your bags or had you take off your shoes for inspection

Since "9-11," security has enjoyed a bit more support in companies.  I myself have noted increased interest on the part of my own bosses and my internal customers (fellow employees).  Some of our officers have said that employees sometimes thank them for "just being there" at a time when folks have concern about what they feel is a more dangerous world.

Relevant Landmark Activities in Security:

Late 1940's - "Plant protection" program for defense plants.  This arose as a result of WWII and the threat posed to defense plants by enemy saboteurs and spies.  (My late Dad was in the FBI during WWII and I vaguely remember him being gone a lot in search of spies.) This is now called the National Industrial Security Program (formerly the Defense Industrial Security Program).  Today it deals with how a defense contractor protects U.S. government (and sometimes foreign government) classified material.  It is run by the Defense Security Service (DSS), formerly the Defense Investigative Service (DIS). (The text still calls it the Defense Investigative Service.)

1955–A.S.I.S. (American Society for Industrial Security) established.  ( The acronym is pronounced "as is." I have been a member since the 70's.  It is really a big outfit and is truly international.  I use the directory all the time to find contacts around the globe. A few years ago I used it to track down a reliable security service in Moscow, Russia.

1968–Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act passed; establishment of L.E.A.A. (Law Enforcement Assistance Administration).  LEAA no longer exists.

1971–RAND Report.

1975–N.A.C. (National Advisory Commission) on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals.

1976–Report of the Task Force on Private Security.

Late 70's- A.S.I.S. established the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) program.  This is a certification program for security professionals.  It requires a certain number of years of experience, endorsements by other professionals who know the applicant, and satisfactory scores on a set of very comprehensive written exams. Once one has the CPP, he or she must re-certify every three years.  This is done by completing courses, presenting lectures, writing security articles, etc. As noted in Chapter 1, ASIS now also sponsors other certifications: PCI and PSP (see page 4).

1985–Hallcrest I

1990–Hallcrest II

1980-present–  other certifications, e.g., CPO, ASET.  (see your text, pages 32 and 33)

 Here's my definition of "Security": It is the use of people, hardware and software, and procedures to:

• Deter
• Detect
• Delay
• Assess
• Respond to the threat of criminal activity against a facility or organization.

As we go through this course and the text, try to think of the things we read about and discuss in the context of my definition.

ASSIGNMENT:

In a short paragraph or two, answer Review Question #4, page 34 of the text.