Law Enforcement & Guarding Equipment

Report Overview

Law enforcement is challenged by the need for a balance between equipping officers with gear that will protect them (be it protecting them physically via body armor and riot gear or from litigation via body cameras) while also trying to manage the appearance of acts of excessive use of force by officers. There are also major concerns about the excessive costs associated with many newer products.

Population & urban-rural distribution affect trends

Demand for law enforcement and guarding equipment varies by region due to demographic differences such as population size and urban-rural distribution. Major urban areas represent a significant share of law enforcement officers employed in the US, as well as the majority of guards. As a result, the South and West -- which have large populations and a large number of urban areas -- represent the largest and most rapidly growing regional markets. Differences in state and local legislation, which may either limit, ban, or require the usage of certain products, also impacts demand.

Technology plays a complicated role

Technology is evolving faster than legislation and policies can keep up with. There are a number of items (license plate readers, body cameras, drones) that agencies are already using because the technology is there and it works, but the policy-makers (at the agency level and at the local, state, and federal government levels) are struggling to keep up with them.

Newer technologies, primarily body cameras and drones, are expected to register strong increases in the number of units sold, though value demand will be limited to a degree by declining prices as manufacturers attempt to offer more cost-efficient products for bud- get-conscious agencies.

Study coverage

Law Enforcement & Guarding Equipment presents historical demand data (2005, 2010, 2015) plus forecasts (2020, 2025) by product (duty gear, video surveillance cameras, communications equipment, body armor and riot gear, other electronic equipment, vehicle equipment, other safety equipment) and by regional US market. The study also considers market environment factors such as pricing dynamics, public safety, and legal and regulatory environments. It also assesses the industry structure, evaluates company market share, and profiles US industry players including L-3 Communications, 5.11, Point Blank, Smith & Wesson, TASER International, Safariland & WatchGuard Video.

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