The author first outlines some of the areas in which the public police service has encouraged private-sector involvement and explains why this is happening. It then considers the extent to which the private sector has moved into areas of public policing, followed by an overview of some of the current movements toward a satisfactory system of regulation for the private-security industry. The author then suggests a positive strategy that involves ways in which the growth of the private- security industry can be used without jeopardizing public interests. The author concludes that the police service will gain from being aware of and having an influence on the total allocation of crime prevention and investigation resources. The use of extra personnel in establishing formal links will be offset by increased efficiency through joint liaison. Greater police knowledge about the industry will not only dispel concern in the police service, but will also help eradicate dubious firms. The private security industry will benefit, not only from greater knowledge about crime prevention and investigation measures, but because the police service will be actively supporting it in its attempts to provide higher-quality service. Finally, the police service will be in a stronger position in preventing the private-security industry from abusing its public position. Poorly trained and paid security officers are often a greater liability than credit, and the public is not well served by such people. Appended supplementary information and a 35-item bibliography