The enthusiasm to drive up standards in private security has generally been sought via various forms of statutory regulation. Important as these are, there are other drivers of standards that have received less attention. This article reports on the crucial role played by buyers of security in determining the quality of private security provision. Via an online survey of 151 security specialists employed by companies, and 509 directors/managers of security, suppliers' attitudes towards current practices in security are discussed. It emerges that although buyers of security see in-house as higher quality, they recognise that contractors offer more value, because they are cheaper. It is suggested that a key driver for the focus on cost rather than quality is the low status of security within organisations. Indeed, despite aspirations for security in organisations to be viewed as business-enhancing, it is all too often an unwelcome purchase. The implications are discussed.
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