Engaging the Private Sector To Promote Homeland Security: Law Enforcement-Private Security Partnerships

Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, law enforcement-private security partnerships have been viewed as critical to preventing terrorism and terror-related acts. Because the private sector owns and protects 85 percent of the nation’s infrastructure, while local law enforcement often possesses threat information regarding infrastructure, law enforcementprivate security partnerships can put vital information into the hands of the people who need it. Thus, to effectively protect the nation’s infrastructure, law enforcement and private security must work collaboratively because neither possesses the necessary resources to do so alone.