From the Egyptians to the first organised police forces
In some ways, security guarding (or security officer services) is much the same profession as it was 2000 years ago. The main function remains to observe and report in line with agreed orders, and to provide a presence that deters, detects and responds to threats, such as criminals or fires. However, in other ways, modern professional security guarding has transformed radically. It is increasingly data driven, and enabled by integrated technologies that collect management data, automate processes and enhance access control monitoring, patrol logging, surveillance and visitor processing and screening capabilities. There is also an increasing focus on customer service, as a means of improving the experience for visitors and clients, with reception services often combined with corporate security officer duties. Licensing, training and qualification requirements are also continuing to help professionalise the frontline security officers, raising standards of conduct and operational effectiveness, and helping to change the negative public image sometimes attributed to security officers. Lastly, the profession is diversifying: namely, security companies are increasingly trying to attract more women, in line with both customer expectations and operational requirements.
But where did it all begin?
The provision of organised, and often armed, forces tasked with protecting specific sites or people against criminal acts or political violence dates back to Ancient Egypt. Since then, many nation states – particularly those responsible for managing large areas of land and population hubs – have formed dedicated groups for this purpose. For instance, Ancient Rome had the Vigiles Urbani and Cohortes Urbanae, and the Umayyad Caliphate had the Shurṭa, all of which had duties that included maintaining public order and security. For much of human history, security services have been mainly delivered by military and paramilitary forces. However, watchmen have also been a staple of urban civilisations, providing security for towns, religious institutions, warehouses, markets, private estates and other locations.
The Middle Ages – a period of great political and religious upheaval and violence – saw important developments in the use of watchmen. In 13th century England, Kings Henry III and Edward I brought in significant legislation that created legal requirements for every town and borough to appoint watchmen, for shires to appoint constables, and a range of other shared responsibilities and accountabilities for upholding public order and security within their respective communities. This approach became known as the watch‑and‑ward system. Those tasked with delivering the security services were not trained, and were usually conscripted locals, overseen by a constable who could summon armed men when needed. Similar legal requirements and civic ordinances appeared in other regions across Europe during the same period, so by the late‑13th century most sizable medieval towns in Western Europe had an organised night‑watch system.
Watchman services continued to evolve into the Renaissance period, with new systems of organising watchmen, new responsibilities and different equipment in response to technological innovations, societal expectations and threats. From the 17th to 18th century, watchman were becoming increasingly professionalised – working full-time for pay – with basic standards required, such as being strong and able-bodied. Regardless of the country, watchmen typically wore practical but smart clothing, and carried a handheld weapon for self-defence, a means of raising the alarm, and often a source of light, such as a lantern.
19th century English depictions of night watchmen in India, Spain, the Netherlands and Russia. From The Security Museum Collection.
With banditry common in Europe, by the 18th century national post offices were also starting to professionalise and standardise their practices for ensuring the security of cash and valuables in transit. In both England and France, repeated robberies eventually led to the systematic arming of uniformed postal guards with handheld weapons and firearms, and mail stored in padlocked strongboxes.[1] Such operational practices continued in many countries until motor vehicles started to replace wagons and coaches in the early 20th century.
1840s English depiction of a Post Office coach robbery. From The Security Museum Collection.
When full-time, state-funded, centralised and organised police forces emerged in the 19th century, many security responsibilities transitioned from private and municipal watchmen to police constables. The new or heavily reformed state police forces were tasked with deterring, detecting, preventing and responding to crime, alongside a range of other security and general policing responsibilities to maintain peace, order and public safety. London’s Metropolitan Police, for example, grew considerably from approximately 3,200 men in about 1830 to around 11,700 men by 1882, and took over operational responsibility for the security of public spaces from watchmen.[2] Other industrialising countries followed similar paths. For example, in 1844, the Guardia Civil was created in Spain; in 1845, the New York Police Department (NYPD) was created in the USA’s biggest city; and in 1852, the Polizia di Stato was created in Italy.
As police force responsibilities grew, those of watchmen shrank. Nevertheless, watchmen continued to be hired for security, predominantly on private property. Watchmen could still be found providing static security guarding for industrial facilities such as factories and warehouses, and for government and public buildings, transportation hubs, private estates, and other commercial premises, such as banks.
[1] https://www.postalmuseum.org/collections/mail-coaches/
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z9y9fcw/revision/4
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