What Are Private Security Agencies?
As the 20th century sociologist Max Weber once noted, the state has a "monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory." While this may still be true to a certain extent in the 21st century, the reality is that private security agencies are increasingly called upon to exercise police powers and military duties once reserved only for the government.
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History of Private Security Agencies
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The idea behind private security agencies is quite old, going back to the origins of human civilization. Mercenaries for example were used extensively throughout the wars of Europe and the near East, from Roman times to well into the 19th century. In the Old West days of American history, frontier towns and railways often depended on private security agencies and freelance individuals in order to create law and order. Perhaps the most famous of these, the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, secured trains from bandits and helped pursue outlaws across state lines and in territories with little formal criminal justice systems.
Private Security Agencies in the Modern Setting
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A private security agency can be best described as a corporation that provides security services to other corporations, the public at large and, in many cases, the government. Domestically, these security services generally include using guards to protect buildings or installations from unauthorized access, deterring criminal activity through armed or unarmed patrol and surveillance, carrying out safety measures such as assisting in evacuations and providing close protection services to VIPs.
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Private Security in Everyday Life
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For most people, the role of private security agencies in their lives is a rather mundane one. Security guards employed by large agencies, such as Wackenhut, are often seen at malls, gated communities and office buildings. People may generally see them as providing a level of extra security that the police may not have the numbers or resources to provide alone.
International Roles
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In terms of their international role and their role in helping governments meet their basic security responsibilities, private security agencies such as Blackwater (Now known as Xe) are contracted to assist in intelligence gathering operations, to provide security for government officials traveling in combat zones and, in some cases, to directly support combat operations.
Current Controversies
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The use of private security agencies has created a great deal of controversy in recent years. Companies such as Blackwater have been accused of being irresponsible and unaccountable when it comes to using deadly force. For example, in 2007, Blackwater security contractors allegedly shot and killed several innocent civilians at Nisour Square, a Baghdad intersection. To make things worse, one contractor testified that there was "no attempt to provide reasonable warning."
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