The Law of Private Security in Australia Second Edition - Book

The Law of Private Security in Australia Second Edition - Book

By Rick SARRE, Tim Prenzler

Book

$190.00 RRP

Date: 08/07/2009

Code: 9780455226835

Lawbook Co., AUSTRALIA

Browse:

Inspection Copy Request

Inspection Copy Request






Available Formats

Format Title Date Code Price
Book The Law of Private Security in Australia Second Edition - Book 08/07/2009 9780455226835 $190.00 Add to cart

Description

Rapid growth and burgeoning diversification within the private security industries have extensively increased interaction between security operators and the public. This increased exposure, together with a number of highly publicised incidents, has brought about a heightened focus on levels of industry professionalism and accountability (including public concerns surrounding personal freedoms), and more burdensome licensing and regulatory controls upon both security companies and individuals. Importantly, it has also prompted security staff to be mindful of their own vulnerability in a vocation where personal legal immunities are rare.

The only work of its kind in this country, The Law of Private Security in Australia, 2nd Edition is an indispensable guide to the rights and responsibilities of private security personnel and their employers.
The authors utilise examples from the industry, underscored by case law, State and federal laws and regulations, industry codes of practice, and ethical protocols. They clearly identify the sources and scope of private security powers and the liabilities impinging upon them. In each scenario, a range of potential actions – desirable and undesirable – is given, as well as the legal consequences that spring from these actions for both employers and employees. The law covered is also of great relevance to police officers, as many of the legal principles that apply to private personnel emanate from the laws that empower and restrict public police.

With its clear explanations of legal concepts by authors with years of experience in teaching lawyers and non-lawyers, The Law of Private Security in Australia, 2nd Edition is essential reading for every security company, security operator and private policing agency.

 

Editorial Reviews

From: Ethos, December 2009
Reviewed by Christopher Ryan, Silk Chambers

“Security is like love; like ice cream; like peace; like praise – one can never get enough of it” – English v Rogers [2005] NSWCA 327, quoting the District Court Judgment.
In the 1970’s police would come upon private security assessing the secured state of premises, and working as shop security for the bigger retailers and mall owners. The quaintly titled “mercantile agent” served court process and filmed injury litigants.  We all “rubbed along” together. “Bunny hopping” a security car out of an embarrassing jam (for the male security officer, with a woman in the car who was not in a security firm uniform) comes to mind as tangible police/security industry goodwill. Burgeoning of work for private security in the past c.25 years has occurred  to cover most major gatherings, including the ACT Rugby 2009 grandfinal and post match melee;  security of sensitive public installations; and the most contentious – club and pub security.
 
Private practice lawyers most often become involved in matters arising from the latter.
Chapters on security staff suing the employer or venue occupier for injuries sustained, security staff being prosecuted, employers being prosecuted (OH&S security breaches), patrons suing security staff and the employer of said staff, clients of security providers suing the provider, employees suing the employer for breach of security, tenants suing for lack of security, are all very well covered by this book. Extensive case references embrace Australia, UK, US, Canadian and NZ authority. Legislation references are thorough. Acknowledgements, and further reading references are generous.
 
Of surprise are the very full and useful chapters on privacy protection and accessing private information, covering legislation and common law based remedies. The purpose is to inform the security industry of what it can and can’t do with its surveillance capacity.  Private practice lawyers will be greatly assisted by this work on this opaque subject.  Government and corporate sector lawyers providing advice to clients and security firms will likewise benefit.
 
In introduction and opening chapters the work covers private security in the wider context of the law. It looks at and to the present and future juxtaposition of the public and private security sectors. As the text points out the future is a growing private sector. No liberal democracy can afford the massive expense of public security at the opportunity cost of environment, education, health, and welfare and housing expenditure.
 
A future edition might contain references in accountability material to common law or industrial court/commission action against the individual security worker for behaviour leading to discipline. If the guard is delinquent (eg, playing with a mobile phone whilst posted outside a bank, the bank being robbed during such distraction) the relevant industrial instrument (collective agreement or AWA) might provide a remedy (eg fine/enforced leave without pay/demotion) short of dismissal. Public security staff work within elaborate legislation based disciplinary codes; private staff discipline is less certain.  A1980’s film (“The Toecutters”, one of Ed Devereaux’s best performances) showed the company CEO giving an order “on the run” that 2 delinquent guards be put back on night duty. Sufficient for our brave new world of private security regulation?
 
Will the various courts and tribunals give weight to the reasonably arguable  discretionary operational decisions made by private security staff? Courts currently give some weight and respect to such decisions in tort and crime cases involving police as variously defendants, informants and/or witnesses.          
 
Future editions may expand the current small number of paragraphs in this 2ed on the immediate above 2 topics.
 
An excellent first point of reference work, for which the profession can be thankful. 
 
 

 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Measuring the Private Security Industry in Australia

2. The Law in Context

3. Legal Sources of Private Security Powers

4. Apprehension, Arrest and Assault

5. False Imprisonment and Other Matters Incidental to Apprehension

6. The Protection of Privacy

7. Electronic Surveillance and Access to Private Information

8. Commercial Liabilities for Private Security

9. Relationships between Public and Private Security Personnel and Issues of Accountability

Resource Downloads

Product Reviews

Got a Promo Code?