RISING CRIME RATES, AND POLICE RESOURCES WHICH ARE OFTEN INADEQUATE TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF MANY COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES, CREATE A VALUABLE ROLE FOR PRIVATE SECURITY COMPANIES. OTHER SERVICES, NOTABLY INVESTIGATIVE AND FIRE PROTECTION, MAY ALSO BEST BE PROVIDED BY PRIVATE SOURCES. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC AND TO MAINTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE, IT WAS GENERALLY AGREED THAT SOME DEGREE OF PUBLIC REGULATION IS DESIRABLE. THIS MIGHT TAKE THE FORM OF LICENSING, SCREENING, AND/OR THE REQUIREMENT OF BASIC QUALIFICATIONS BY A PUBLIC AUTHORITY. ALTERNATIVELY, IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE INDUSTRY MIGHT COLLECTIVELY REGULATE ITSELF, WITH POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE OR OVERSIGHT FROM THE STATE.