May I start with a simple definition of how we in the private sector see security - we see it as:

The protection of assets - including people - against damage, injury or loss from internal or external causes.

In business, good security is there to help ensure profitability as well as, hopefully, a stable work condition.

The industry itself is made up of companies and individuals, not funded by the Government, which provide security-related services, equipment and hardware to specific clients for a fee or price. Outside of the industry but included in private sector security, we have those individuals employed by private companies themselves for the specific purpose of protecting their company assets.

Private sector security is then, a sizable and powerful ally of government and law enforcement agencies. In its broadest terms the industry can be divided into two main classifications: -

Services - utilizing human resources; and

Technology - utilising security products.

When talking of "services" we think of security guards, armoured-car crews, investigators, armed reaction units and other protective, supervisory and monitoring services. Technology is wide-ranging and supplies us with locks, safes, strong rooms, fences and more technically, with electronic access control, closed circuit television and with monitoring, deterrent and detection equipment for both security and fire control purposes.

The private security industry is controlled by an Act of Parliament - the Security Officers' Act 1987 which is administered by the Security Officers' Board, appointed by the Minister. previously of Law and Order, now of Safety and Security.

The board is a totally statutory body, with no government funding for its operation and survival. All its costs are paid for by fees levied from registered security officers, both companies and individuals.

It is likely that in the near future "in-house" security personnel employed by commercial and industrial organisations, will be included within the ambit of the Act and the Security Officers' Board. There are various security associations catering for the needs of different sections of the industry, with the Security Association of South Africa (SASA) the biggest and best known during its nearly 30 years of existence. It works for the improvement of service standards and professionalism within the security industry.

The South African Security Federation (SASFED) is the umbrella body which co-ordinates the activities and acts as the spokesman for the different security associations representing all facets of the industry.

The size of the industry is illustrated by the fact that the security officers' board has registered more than 2 600 security companies and in excess of 160 000 security officers. The non-commercial sector, the "in-house" operation, employs probably, another 200 000 security personnel. The annual turnover of the industry is estimated - perhaps "guesstimated" is a better word - as being in the region of R2 billion.

These figures lead me to comment on the contribution, other than straight-forward security, which we make. We provide employment, training and a career-path for a great many initially unskilled people and a not inconsiderable amount of money to the State exchequer. I would argue that this, the provision of employment and the assistance to the economy is itself a significant contribution to the ongoing security and stability of South Africa. This contribution, perhaps not usually considered as helping the overall security situation in the country, will continue to grow.

It is an unfortunate fact that security is a growth industry, is here to stay and has to keep pace with that other growth industry "crime". Crime, world-wide, is on the increase, particularly crimes of violence, and South Africa is no exception except perhaps in the number of violent incidents.

The security industry is often regarded as being in competition with the South African Police Service, or as doing the same job. Far from it. The security industry in no way tries to usurp police functions, we have one common objective, the prevention of crime. The police have other functions as defined in the Police Act, such as, the preservation of the internal security of the country, the maintenance of law and order and the investigation of offences or alleged offences.

In the prevention of crime, both police and private security resources are, in their differing ways, directed towards protective functions in society. We come together in common cause in the prevention of crime and criminal activity, the protection of assets, of persons and property. With due respect for my police friends, I would suggest that in the past, where prevention is concerned, we, in the private security sector have been more proactive and less reactive than the police. Hopefully, in the new South Africa, that will change. Our primary function in the industry, is loss prevention and the protection of assets, aimed as I mentioned before, at assisting with the profitability of organisations or the preservation of their assets for the purpose they were designed for.

That the private security sector has an important role to play in countering crime and the criminal, has long been recognised world-wide, since, in a democratic (and I stress the "democratic") country, the police on their own cannot curb crime to the degree expected. To quote Sir Robert Mark, one of the better known Commissioners of the London Metropolitan Police "a great deal of crime is simply not preventable, even the biggest police force that society could want or afford to pay, would be unlikely to have any significant effect on the number of thefts, burglaries or crimes of violence."

As I said before, the private security industry is here to stay. How can private security join with the country's other resources to optimise and improve security in the widest possible sense? We cannot take from the defence forces and the more traditional roles of the public sector but "privatisation" is not a dirty word and in quite a few Western states such as the United States of America and United Kingdom; the police, prisons and other Government departments have contracted out to private security a number of their activities. It has proved successful and cost-effective and has freed highly-trained officers and officials to concentrate on the central, primary jobs of their organisations.

That there will be changes in the composition and operation methods of the SAPS is accepted and a new Police Act is being drafted. The emphasis of the new-look police force will be on partnership policing with close co-operation and liaison between the public and private sectors. Private sector security must be involved here.

It is in this context that the private sector can make a major contribution. Let me remind you that many members of the industry were once police officers, in South Africa or elsewhere in the world. (I, for instance, came from Kenya some 30 years ago). There is a depth of useful skills and experience available to be tapped.

At the end of 1993, the national crime combating council (NCC) was formed. It followed a two year period of meetings and workshops involving the police and interested parties from commerce and industry, including the private security sector. The final result, the national council aimed at initiating countrywide, the principle of partnership policing with regional and local committees supporting, advising and co-operating with the SAPS in its task of countering crime. The NCC fits nicely into what is envisaged in the new, draft Police Act which aims at making the police service accountable to the communities they serve. It can work with the proposed community police forums in monitoring police effectiveness, dealing with complaints and determining priorities.

The private sector security industry with its country-wide network of security association branches and committees (SASA is a national organisation); is ideally suited to play a significant role in partnership policing, in community forums and groups.

We should be working together on crime prevention programmes; should be exchanging information, undertaking joint research and creating a national, integrated communication and technology network assisting the police and other public security units in the prevention of crime.

As I said earlier, public policing must become more proactive, less reactive, must work for the prevention of crime rather that concentrate on investigation after the event. We, the private sector, believe that we have a major part to play in this prevention.

We, in our industry, need to be more forceful with affirmative action. There are many individuals within our sector who are basically security competent but who need education, training and encouragement to move into management positions.

The security officers' board has laid down standards of training for all levels of security officers and has made these mandatory. Properly implemented and monitored by the board we will see a marked uplifting in the services provided by the industry and therefore a significantly improved contribution to the country's security.

The security association, SASA, and the Institute of Security together with representatives of all security disciplines are also working at raising standards of service and professionalism within our field. Management and all practitioners are dedicated to the improvement of performance, of competence and ethical fitness.

The private security sector has its own, individual place in the overall security of South Africa. The skills, expertise and ability are there, together with the willingness to join with all sectors of the community in working for the prevention of crime and a more secure South Africa.

Let me finish with another quote which emphasises why we need to mobilise all our resources, private as well as public, in dealing with crime. In a report summarising the ineffectiveness of government systems to deal with crime and criminals the then director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, said:-

As has been pointed out by many knowledgeable students of the crime problem, large expenditures of public resources will not alone result in significant inroads on crime. No segment of the criminal justice systems, whether it be law enforcement, courts, prosecution, correction (prisons) or rehabilitation, has individually, or in concert with others, been able to stem the creeping tide of criminality.

I am not quite so pessimistic, if a majority of our population decides against crime and is prepared to voice its opposition and work together to root out criminals, we can improve the present situation out of all recognition and lead on to an era of peace, stability and prosperity.

The private security sector is ready to play its part.