This book provides a fascinating insight into the history of security and the politics of protection. It takes us on a journey to better understand what the author calls the development of the ‘security society’. A striking observation running through the text is the discussion of how and why many modern concerns and debates are often repeats of similar ones that occurred in the past. The author starts by discussing the relationship between forms of crime control and the influence of ‘security’ discourses and practices. There is a particular focus on the influence of the civilising process (drawing on the work of Norbert Elias) highlighting how British society is secured from threats by the evolution of a range of experts and technologies (including private ones). Francis Dodsworth’s skilful work takes the reader through the cultural changes and what influenced them and the ways in which there has been a reframing of what it means to be vulnerable and the different responses that ensued.