Beginning with a critique of the sociology of policing, the book then provides a detailed analysis of the concepts of "public" and "private" and then examines the boundaries between various forms of policing. Competing theoretical explanations for the growth of private policing are considered, using data from the first national survey of the private security sector in Great Britain. The authors then examine public and private policing on the local level. Using a case study, the authors focus on the range of individuals and organizations involved in front-line policing. They describe and analyze the activities of the full range of "policing" agencies. Through this analysis, the authors provide a reconceptualization of what is meant by "policing" today and consider the implications of this perspective for the future of policing generally. They identify trends that suggest the public police will be stretched to provide expanded services to a demanding public while for-profit private security providers will focus on security services that meet the needs of those who can afford such services. A 188-item bibliography