Impact of the Convergence of Public and Private Sector Security in the Post-9/11 World
The terrorist attack in the United States on September 11, 2002, significantly changed the more in the security sector, with various countries focusing on preventive strategies against terrorism activities. Notably, a collaboration between privates and public security sectors has taken center stage in many nations, including the United States, to ensure the safety of their citizens. The attack occurred as the changing point leading to emerging of various terrorist groups. Currently, the world faces different security threats from activities such as transnational organized crimes and global terrorism. As a result, the complicity of the security threats more after 9/11 has resulted in the government collaborating with private sectors and the public to ensure the safety of the citizens. The convergence of public and private sector security possesses various impacts that vary from one country to another. In countries such as the United States, the collaborations have significantly yielded fruits by preventing multiple security threats due to the existing partnerships.
Governments around the world face various challenges, including security. Providing adequate to the citizens exists on significant issues due to threats from war and terrorism that pose multiple threats to the societies globally. As a result, public-private security partnerships have a critical impact in facilitating the fight against threatening activities in communities through crime and terrorism activities. As per Morabito and Greenberg (2012), the partnership in different countries has contributed to the local law enforcement agencies and institutions and private security organizations working together, leading to an increase in public safety. The private sector interacts with most of the country’s infrastructure, leading to providing essential information through effective communication (László, 2017). Furthermore, the collaboration has resulted in bridging the gaps left on the security system of countries leading to detection of threats in the early stages and tang necessary actions that prevent terrorism or criminal acts (Uzuegbu-Wilson, 2016). On the same note, private and public security collaboration has facilitated community policing in many countries globally. Government law enforcement agencies have adequate time to get alert on the treats and take necessary preventive measures.
The forming partnership between the public security system and private institutions exists as a critical phenomenon with crucial consequences in the security structure of countries. The process of converting such necessary security parties has facilitated the identification and elimination of the vulnerabilities in the country’s national security (Uzuegbu-Wilson, 2016). Notably, the private’s sector carries out the risk assessment in various institutions leading to the protection of assets and providing crucial information to the security forces. Similarly, public security agencies offer the privates sector significant information on multiple threats due to the partnership leading to taking suitable actions to prevent causalities (László, 2017). Besides, converging private and public efforts in fighting terrorism and organized crimes have contributed to understanding communication channels in case of any security threats leading to quick response and aversion of such activities.
The accomplishment of the convergence of public and private sector security globally takes different forms to assure effective and successful communication among the stakeholders involved. The private and public security sectors form partnerships leading to convenient exchange of information and collaboration to detect and eliminate various security threats (Uzuegbu-Wilson, 2016). Equally, training the private sector by the public security agencies in different types of terrorism and organized crimes leads to achieving the convergence goals that contribute to a secure country (László, 2017). Similarly, creating effective means of communication between the two parties contributes to efficiency in exchanging essential information and take suitable measures to reduce the severity of the actions.
The convergence of public and private sector security has enormous benefits in fighting terrorism and organized criminal activities globally. Moreover, the partnership encounters various challenges that act as obstacles for success, interaction, communication, and collaboration to achieve common goals (Morabito & Greenberg, 2012). For instance, the association experiences obstacles such as barriers in sharing information and a lack of trust, which affects the role played by each party in the partnership (László, 2017). In most cases, privates organizations and security agencies hire experienced staff such as ex-military and special units personnel as security employees due to having substantial information networks and experience (Morabito & Greenberg, 2012). Despite the information being profoundly valuable, sharing with other people have various limitations. Besides, multiple obstacles exist between law enforcement agencies and the private’s sector in sharing particular types of information on terrorism and organized criminal activities. According to László (2017), barriers arise from both sides, with private and public security systems having different interests. For example, the private sector critically concentrates on the business aspect leading to avoiding releasing information that could negatively affect the organizations. On the other hand, law enforcement agencies have diverse factors that create difficulties in sharing the available data to the private sector (Morabito & Greenberg, 2012). Equally, law enforcement institutions deal with confidential data only to share with authorized personnel instead of people in the private sector (László, 2017). Most countries limit the sharing of information on national security issues with foreign governments operating in the private sector.
Lack of trust is a significant obstacle in the partnership between private security and public law enforcement agencies. Despite anticipations of the two groups collaborating to achieve the common objectives, the level system experiences a low level of trust, more so in exchanging essential data (László, 2017). In most cases, private security and public law enforcement units perceive having separate goals leading to a particular competition. Creating mutual trust has experienced different problems that hinder the two groups from working collaboratively towards the intended achievements (László, 2017). Lack of confidence has resulted in inadequate data sharing on various security threats, leading to multiple consequences, including casualties.
Potential Solutions to the Obstacles
Dealing with barriers to sharing information and lack of trust between the private security and law enforcement agencies requires strategies to ensure that both parties operate on the same page. As a result, they should focus on common goals and tasks to enhance effective collaboration and interaction while performing their duties (Morabito & Greenberg, 2012). To counter the obstacles, the two groups should establish passions and vision facilitates cohesiveness leading to working together as a team. Having an idea would lead to both parties putting the same effort to achieve the intended goals (Morabito & Greenberg, 2012). Similarly, transparent and consistent communication would effectively deal with lack of trust issues in the partnership, leading to sharing meaningful information on national security matters. As per Morabito and Greenberg (2012), effective communication exists as a critical factor in creating trust and cohesiveness in such a relationship of two parties leading to working together for the intended outcome. Equally, training of the individuals involved in the partnership would solve various challenges facing the association between the private security and public laws enforcement agencies. Each side would understand what type of information to share and with the relevant person leading to increased convenience in data exchange on security issues (Morabito & Greenberg, 2012). Besides, ensuring quality and equity in roles performed by the parties involved in association through recognition and sharing of the work would solve the lack of struts and communication problems.
References
László, C. (2017). The role of complementary law enforcement institutions in Hungary. Efficient synergy in the field of complementary law enforcement? A new approach. Scientific articles, 2017(4), 132-139. https://repository.mruni.eu/bitstream/handle/007/15079/Laszlo.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Morabito, A., & Greenberg, S. (2012). The law enforcement-private security consortium, operation partnership: Trends and practices in law enforcement and private security collaborations 119-122 (2005). Private Security and the Law, 589-593. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-386922-7.00013-7
Uzuegbu-Wilson, E. (2016). Partnership between the police and private security services on crime prevention and control in Nigeria: An empirical analysis. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 21(09), 57-62. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2109125762
