Explore further with these author curated useful sites.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA), established by the 2001 Private Security Industry Act, provides a relatively light-touch regulation of the sector. The SIA website outlines its role and the process by which it licenses the industry. The site addresses the nature of the licensing process that it oversees, and responds to some criticisms of the system.

The extent and long standing of the security industry is demonstrated by the breadth of topics covered by the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS), which was established in 1955 and has approximately 35,000 members organised into more than 200 ‘chapters’ worldwide. The ASIS website provides details of its work and the security industry more generally.

The website of the National Community Safety Network contains a host of resources relating to the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships and the growing range of agencies engaged in policing.

The Scottish Community Safety Network is a charity that aims to promote good practice in community safety, to represent the interests of agencies working in the sector, and to encourage collaboration among members. More details on their work can be found at their website.

The documentary video, Private Eye Part 1, provides an in-depth look in to the work of private detectives, the reality of their job and what is actually involved.

BBC Scotland documentary, Scotland Investigates: Britain’s Private War, investigates the UK’s armed private security industry. Reporter Samantha Poling hears how former servicemen are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan while on UK government contracts paid for by the taxpayer with little public knowledge of their deaths.