Citizen satisfaction with private security guards in the Netherlands: Perceptions of an ambiguous occupation

Abstract

The employment of private security guards has increased in many European countries in recent decades and the Netherlands is no exception. However, despite large increases in the growth of the private security industry, little is known about how the public perceives agents of private policing and their role in crime prevention and enhancing the public’s sense of safety. In this paper we examine public perceptions of private security personnel. More specifically, we examine citizens’ attitudes toward the nature of security guards’ work, their relationship with public police, and their level of satisfaction with private police services. Findings suggest that, on the whole, Dutch citizens have mixed opinions about private security guards. Nonetheless, contrary to what is often assumed about the public image of private security, findings also suggest that respondents tend not to view the nature of security guards’ work and their professionalism in purely negative terms. Contact with security guards was a key predictor of satisfaction with guard services.

Private security policing by ‘ethnic matching’ in Swedish suburbs: avoiding and managing accusations of ethnic discrimination

“…Previous research in the field of private security has focused on the actual service delivery of private security officers (Hobbs et al 2003, Wakefield 2003, Button 2007b, the 'risk gaze' or risk profiling targeting specific categories of people (McCahill 2002, Wakefield 2003, Hutchinson and O'Connor 2005 and also ethnic profiling by private security officers (Gabbidon 2003, O'Dougherty 2006, Kempa and Singh 2008, as well as public perceptions of the industry (Livingstone and Hart 2003, Noaks 2008, van Steden and Nalla 2010, Berndtsson 2011, Thumala et al 2011. This article broadens and, in part, rearranges this focus of the previous research on private security by looking at 'policing by ethnic matching', which involves deliberate attempts by private security officers to gain legitimacy in relation to a specific public by claiming 'likeness' to it in terms of ethnic background.…”

“…In an international perspective, the country regarded as something of a forerunner when it comes to the quality and regulation of the security industry has for some time already been Sweden (De Waard 1999, van Steden andSarré 2007, Button 2007a). Yet, even Swedish private security companies and, as we shall see, individual security officers frequently face the need of having to account for the tarnished reputation of the industry at large.…”

Feelings of Safety In The Presence Of the Police, Security Guards, and Police Volunteers

“…In terms of security guards, their presence is often related to higher levels of feelings of safety (Klein et al 1989;Noaks 2000;Van Steden and Nalla 2010;Walsh and Donovan 1989), but the results are inconclusive. Similar to studies on police presence, some people have higher levels of feelings of unsafety as a result of the increased presence of security guards (Noaks 2000(Noaks , 2004.…”

“…This hypothesis was derived from the previous research mentioned in the introductory section; people do feel safer by uniformed presence in areas perceived as unsafe (see e.g., Hauber et al 1996;Salmi et al 2004;Trojanowicz and Baldwin 1982;Van De Veer et al 2012;Van Steden and Nalla 2010). We also hypothesize that people will feel safer in the presence of foot patrol as compared to vehicle patrol.…”

Senior police officers' perspectives on private security: sceptics, pragmatists and embracers

“…And private police patrols have been seen to play an important public service role even when engaged on private property (see Beck and Willis 1995, Wakefield 2003, Button et al 2007. In fact evaluations of public/residents' views of private patrols suggest their perspectives are sometimes positive as well as sometimes negative (see Nalla and Heraux 2003, Nalla and Lim 2003, van Senden and Nalla 2010, see also Noaks 2000Noaks , 2008. In a different way, it is recognised that many public buildings, including major landmarks and heritage sites are protected by private security (CoESS 2012).…”