Private Security as a Supervisor of Privatized Urban Spaces

Namen prispevka: Namen prispevka je proučiti opravila, ki jih pri varovanju nakupovalnega središča, kot privatiziranega urbanega prostora, izvaja zasebnovarnostno osebje. Avtorji želijo ugotoviti, kakšno je razmerje med tipičnimi varnostnimi/ policijskimi/nadzorstvenimi opravili, ki jih najbolje okarakterizirajo zakonsko opredeljeni ukrepi zasebnega varnostnika, in drugimi opravili, ki imajo za cilj predvsem zagotavljanje prijetnega in sproščenega počutja strank ter zadovoljstva naročnikov zasebnovarnostnih storitev. Metode: Prispevek temelji na raziskavi, ki je bila opravljena s pomočjo kvalitativnih metod raziskovanja, predvsem z metodo načrtnega neposrednega opazovanja za proučevanje dogajanj v nakupovalnem središču in reakcijo zasebnih varnostnikov na to dogajanje ter metodo intervjuja za pojasnitev organizacije varovanja in upravljanja z nakupovalnim središčem. Ugotovitve: Proučevano nakupovalno središče se je v opazovanem obdobju pokazalo za varen in do obiskovalcev prijazen urbani prostor. To dokazuje tudi opravljeno delo zasebnih varnostnikov, ki je obsegalo in zahtevalo predvsem ukrepe opozarjanja in izrekanja ustnih navodil (odredb) obiskovalcem, medtem ko dogodkov, ki bi zahtevali druge, ostrejše ukrepe varnostnikov (od preprečitve vstopa ali izstopa in zadržanja osebe do uporabe fizične sile ali sredstev za vklepanje in vezanje) v opazovanem obdobju ni bilo. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave Raziskava vključuje le vidik varovanja skupnih prostorov nakupovalnega središča, ne opredeljuje pa se do razmerij med posameznimi ponudniki/ izvajalci zasebnovarnostnih storitev, ki jih najemajo poslovni subjekti znotraj nakupovalnega središča. To ostaja izziv za nadaljnje raziskovanje. Praktična uporabnost: Tako zasebnovarnostna podjetja kot tudi naročniki/uporabniki njihovih storitev so z raziskavo dobili nevtralen vpogled v dejanske razsežnosti opravljanja varnostno-nadzorstvenih in drugih funkcij zasebnih varnostnikov v nakupovalnem središču. Prav tako bodo ugotovitve pomembne za premislek o smotrnosti drobitve zasebnovarnostnih storitev med različne ponudnike teh storitev v enem nakupovalnem središču, kakor tudi o (ne)koordinaciji in (ne) sodelovanju med varnostniki v lokalih in varnostniki nakupovalnega središča. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Članek predstavlja rezultate raziskave o dejanski vlogi zasebnega varovanja kot neformalnega družbenega nadzorovalca v privatiziranih urbanih prostorih. Gre za prvo tovrstno raziskavo v Sloveniji.Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine tasks of the private security personnel in shopping malls, as privatized urban space. The authors would like to find out the relationship between the typical security/police/supervisory tasks that are best legally defined as measures of private security guards, and other jobs that are aimed primarily to ensure a pleasant and relaxed well-being of customers in the shopping malls and contracting authority’s satisfaction with private security service. Design/Methods/Approach: The article is based on research that was conducted by using qualitative research methods, particularly the method of systematic direct observation. The goal of the research is to study occurrences in the shopping malls, and the reaction of private security guards at these events. To clarify the organization of the security and management of shopping malls the authors also used the interview method. Findings: In the observed period, the examined shopping mall has proved to be safe and visitor-friendly urban space. This is evidenced by the work of private security guards that has involved and required mainly actions of warning and imposing verbal orders to the visitors, while events that would require other, rougher security measures during the observation period were not needed (prevention of entering a protected area, detention of persons, use of physical force and other means of restraint). Research Limitations / Implications: The survey includes only the aspect of securing the common areas of the shopping mall, while it does not define the relationships between different providers of private security services hired by owners/managers of various premises within the mall. This remains a challenge for further research. Practical Implications: This research offers both, the private security companies as well as the users of their services (shopping mall’s owners), the neutral insight into the true extent of the provision of security, supervisory and other functions of private security guards in the mall. The findings are also important for considering the rationality/ effectiveness and efficiency of the fragmentation of private security services between various providers of these services in the shopping mall, as well as (un) coordination and (non)cooperation between the security guards of the single premises and security guards of the shopping mall. Originality/Value: The article presents the results of the study in which the authors attempt to define the role of private security as an informal subject of social control in privatized urban areas. This is the first survey of this type conducted in Slovenia