A study of the policing of six shopping centres in the north
west of England using non-participatory observations, a Likert Scale survey and anecdotal data as a means of examining the changing division of policing labour. The study draws on research carried out in Britain and North America which suggests that although there are strong negative perceptions of the average security officer, the security industry continues to expand.
The study examines some of the theoretical concepts used to
explain the continuing development and expansion of the private security industry by focusing on one particular sector of the contract guarding division of the industry.
Whilst it is accepted that the examination of such a small
part of such a large industry can do no more than provide a
snap-shot of how policing provision is changing, the conclusions drawn are used to make recommendations with
respect to the regulation of the industry
