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History of Private Security

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The private security industry in the United States, can be traced as far back as the mid nineteenth century, where this type of service was primarily used to help fill the gaps created by public police forces in major cities that were just forming . Ever since man has figured out there was a difference between “mine” and “yours”, there has been a need for private security. Private security is just that, it is a person who is paid to protect property, assets, or even people. Private security is plays a vital role and is essential to ensuring the security and safety of persons and property, as well as intellectual property and sensitive corporate information.
The United States for example, adopted private security around the 1700’s. It was said that settlers were first venturing out Westward from the East Coast area and quickly ran into hostile Indian tribes along the way. This also posed a serious threat to their safety and well-being. Over the years the role of private security has changed, from its simplest form of protecting people, property, and information to a more complex form, of individuals and businesses that provide, for a fee, services to clientele to protect their persons, their private property, or their interests from various hazards. Early in its existence, training for private security was almost non-existent or inadequate at best. Over the years, training has greatly improved and with that improvement came strict standards and guidelines.
By the 1800’s, police agencies were starting to form in major American cities. However, the police departments were not always efficient enough to deter or help with crime. This left the public in need of adequate protection, and by public demand private security agencies across America started to form. One of the first established was the Pinkerton’s North West Police Agency in 1855. Pinkerton, was the

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