Issues Related to Choosing a Guard Force Structure

Year
1975
Author(s)
William A. Higinbotham - Brookhaven National Laboratory
E. V. Weinstock - Brookhaven National Laboratory
L. Green - BNL
C. Auerbach - Brookhaven National Laboratory
J. Induai - Brookhaven National Laboratory
Abstract
The establishment of a federal security force has been suggested as an additional step to protect nuclear material. The force would be given the responsibility for guarding nuclear facilities and shipments of nuclear materials. This paper summarizes a study to identify the issues that are relevant to choosing between the private guard forces that are presently employed by industry or a guard force under federal authority. To examine the issras which would be relevant, three possible types of security force structures were selected for comparison: a federal force under central authority, a private guard force employed by or under contract to a facility, and a private arrangement to employ local police officers similar to the arrangement for armed guards at airports. The issues were divided into seven categories: (1) Legal Considerations, (2) Liability, (3) Staffing and Operations, (4) Costs, (5) Relationship to Off-site Forces, (6) Management and Control, (7) Transportation.