Public attitudes to Employer Supported Policing in a retail context

In recent years, Private Security has focused upon the growth and importance of the industry. There are many issues that this sector faces, such as providing an adequate definition of its role and calculating the actual size of the sector. However, it can still be said that the Public Police still remain firmly at the top of the table as the most important policing organisation (Button, 2002, p. 33). It is only in recent years that the interface between the Public Police and Private Security has come to light, however this was an unplanned practice (Opolot, 1999, p. 78). The objective for the research carried out is to establish the public attitudes towards new forms of policing in a retail context using a scheme referred to as ‘Employer Supported Policing’. Security within retail outlets is an area that is currently starting to be placed at the forefront of many management team agendas within this sector. The data collection methods used to conduct this research were questionnaires with both the staff and the public visiting Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. The key findings of this study found that there is support for Special Constables within the policing community. The public are now realising that there is more to the Police service than just the regular Police Officers they see and are now slowly starting to welcome different forms of policing and protection. There is a significant amount of support from the public with regards to the Employer Supported Policing scheme and feedback from this research will be greatly welcomed by the management in Gunwharf Quays as it is based on the views of their customers.