Private Security, Nodal Governance and the Security System

Abstract

Security — or insecurity — has become a major public concern, an issue at the top of the political agenda and the subject of expanding academic enquiry. Fuelled by the rise of new terrorism, fears exacerbated by high profile crimes and growing anxieties over anti-social behaviour, for many people the need for more effective security has never seemed greater. In recent years there has been a proliferation of books and articles dedicated to security, examining governance, developing theory and identifying best practice in a variety of areas (Johnston and Shearing, 2003; Loader and Walker, 2007; Gill, 2006). There are now dozens of academics, worldwide, researching and writing on the subject of security. One of the most significant areas of interest to emerge has been around the debates relating to nodal governance. This is the main topic of this chapter and its exploration here will provide a theoretical framework for the rest of the book. Before some of these discussions are considered, however, it is important to grapple with some important foundational concepts and issues, such as what is meant by security, the growing plurality of bodies involved in delivering it, the remarkable growth of private security and the reactions to that expansion.