Private security aims to protect those who pay for the service.
Private security is the sector that offers guards, security guards and different control devices for any citizen who can pay for them. Its benefits are similar, although with limitations, to those provided by public security , which is a State service to guarantee the physical integrity of citizens and their property .
It should be noted that, originating from the Latin term securĭtas , the concept of security refers to that which has the quality of insurance or that is free from danger, damage or risk . For its part, the word private has its etymological origin in Latin. More specifically, we can determine that it comes from the word privatus , which in turn emanates from the verb privare , which can be translated as a synonym for "deprive."
Operation of private security
The State security forces are responsible for preventing the commission of crimes and pursuing criminals, with the mission of handing them over to the Judiciary . This body has the mission of applying the punishments stipulated by law , which can range from a financial fine to the death penalty , depending on the country and the seriousness of the crime.
However, the ineffectiveness of state security and its lack of scope in certain cases has generated the business of private security. Due to numbers, there are not enough police officers to take care of each person or company. Therefore, those who feel at risk can turn to private security and hire a permanent custodian. Likewise, companies that want to have a security guard take care of their facilities hire this type of services.
Thus, currently we find that many businesses tend to opt for hiring professionals from the private security sector to guarantee the development of their work without any type of problems and to avoid what are different acts. criminals in their facilities.
The installation of surveillance cameras is a common resource for private security.
Main clients
Among the group of companies that opt for private security we find department stores ; clothing stores that in this way try to prevent criminals from stealing clothes; and even jewelry stores. And the latter are in the crosshairs of many of those criminals who hatch their plans to steal high-value merchandise from them, which is why it is necessary to hire private services that can prevent theft of all kinds.
And all of this without forgetting that in the area of private life there has also been an increase in the number of people who also decide to rely on private security professionals to live more peacefully in their homes without running the risk of them being assaulted. . Thus, both at the individual level and in urbanizations with a certain purchasing power, there are already members of private security ensuring the well-being of those who have hired them.
Depending on the country, private security guards may or may not carry firearms and have different powers delegated to them by the State. In general, control of public space remains exclusively limited to state security forces.