International Journal on Criminology Volume 4, Number 2, Winter 2016 | Page 97

International Journal on Criminology - Winter 2016, Volume 4, Number 2
From Emergence to Institutionalization of Security
Departments within French Companies
Laurent Griot A and Olivier Hassid B
From emergence to institutionalization of security departments
within companies. A contingency approach.
Within current knowledge concerning organizations, “security” has
no specific sense. It is often considered as part of “safety”. Here we
demonstrate that large French companies have institutionalized the
distinction in recent years. Under the influence of increasingly strong
external contingency factors, they have no other choice but to entrust their
protection against hostilities to a specialized department. These “security
departments” are now separate from “safety departments” which are now
charged with the prevention of and fight against various forms of accidents.
In doing so, we are observing the institutionalization of a position which
is still seeking its place.
Keywords: Safety; Security; External contingency
The months following the attacks of January and November 2015 in France
saw a huge reinforcement of security in the country. The forces of law and
order were therefore in particular demand. Perhaps too much so for some. In
April 2015, CRS squads (riot police) stopped work under the guise of “strikes” for
medical reasons. According to police unions, the men were exhausted. In order to cope
with this increased workload which finally became permanent, they had a proposal
to make which may cause surprise. Except for some technical arrangements, they
A
Doctoral student in Business Management, Management Research Laboratory at the University of
Paris II—Panthéon-ASSAS (LARGEPA).
B
Doctor in Economic Sciences at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
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