overview

This note considers the 'private security' sector, which ranges from commercial detectives, nightclub bouncers and CCTV monitoring staff through to private armies.

It comprises -

• this introduction - what is the private security sector?
• the industry - the shape of the private security industry
• regulation - law, industry codes, regulatory agencies and industry bodies in Australia
• issues - questions about legitimacy, lawfulness, regulatory capture and effectiveness
• armies - 'private armies' as a perspective on domestic private security
• prisons - the private prison industry in Australia and overseas
• noir - private security in film and literature
• studies - academic, government and other studies of the industry, law, issues and particular private security providers.

A complementary page discusses Australian policing as part of the note on the shape of Australian law.

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