IN WEST GERMANY, PRIVATE POLICE COMPANIES HAVE DEVELOPED FROM THE HUMBLE MEDIEVAL NIGHTWATCH TO A WELL-EQUIPPED, HIGHLY-TRAINED AND RAPIDLY EXPANDING GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS. THEIR SERVICES RANGE FROM OCCASIONAL PATROLS TO AROUND-THE-CLOCK PROTECTION, VEHICLE PROTECTION, BODYGUARDS, FLIGHT PASSENGER CONTROL, TRANSPORT SECURITY, AND BURGLARY PROTECTION. THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AS WELL AS LARGE COMPANIES, ATOMIC POWER PLANTS, COUNTIES, THE GERMAN ARMY, AND THE ALLIED FORCES. NO RESEARCH EXISTS AS TO THE IMPACT OF THESE COMPANIES ON CRIMINAL ACTIVITY; HOWEVER, CRIME STATISTICS INDICATE THAT BURGLARIES OF WEST GERMAN FUR SHOPS DECREASED BY ONE-HALF FROM 1970 TO 1974 AFTER INSURANCE COMPANIES INSISTED ON THE INSTALLATION OF SPECIAL SECURITY EQUIPMENT AND BURGLAR ALARMS. INDICATIONS SUGGEST THAT THE PREVALENCE OF SUCH EQUIPMENT OR SECURITY GUARDS IN COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS HAS LED CRIMINALS TO SHIFT THEIR ACTIVITIES TO SMALL, PRIVATE, UNPROTECTED PLACES. POLICE ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE NEW TREND TO PRIVATE POLICE ARE NEITHER OFFICIAL NOR UNANIMOUS; SO FAR, THE MAJORITY OF OFFICERS WELCOME THE PRIVATE INITIATIVE, AND THE COLLABORATION BETWEEN PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL SECURITY SERVICES IS CONSIDERED GOOD. HOWEVER, THE POLICE CANNOT TOLERATE ARMED AND UNIFORMED SLUGGERS WHO, PREDOMINANTLY IN REDLIGHT DISTRICTS, NOW PROTECT DUBIOUS PRIVATE INTERESTS. SECURITY COMPANIES MUST BE MADE TO ADOPT A UNIFORM CODE OF HONOR ADHERING TO THE SAME STANDARDS OF BEHAVIOR AS THE OFFICIAL POLICE FORCE. THE RESPECTABILITY OF PRIVATE POLICE COMPANIES IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED BY ENTRUSTING THEIR COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE AS WAS RECENTLY DONE IN THE WEST GERMAN STATE OF NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA. --IN GERMAN (SAJ)