Today security is a central theme in criminology; as security governs our lives, governing security becomes a priority. This important text provides an authoritative introduction to security, serving simultaneously as an introduction and as a timely reflection upon the significance, implications, and dangers of 'security'.

Lucia Zedner is Professor of Criminal Justice at the Law Faculty, Centre for Criminology, and Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford, and Conjoint Professor, at the Law Faculty, University of New South Wales. Her most recent books are Criminal Justice (2004) and Crime and Security (2006, co-editor).

Introduction 1. Semantics of Security 2. A Brief History of Security 3. New Distributions of Security 4. Security, Crime, and Criminal Justice 5. Security as Industry 6. Security and Counter-terrorism 7. Governing Security