The framing of private security and its regulation in Belgium, 1980–2020

Abstract

Over the past 40 years, the private security sector in Belgium, along with its related policies, has undergone significant transformations, with the industry establishing itself as a crucial partner in domestic security governance. Although the political context in which private security has evolved holds considerable importance in criminological scholarship, the specific processes of framing this phenomenon have attracted much less attention. This article examines the various approaches adopted by political actors in framing private security within policy formulations and efforts to introduce new regulations. Empirical data are drawn from parliamentary records spanning the years 1980 to 2020. By focussing on the parliamentary arena, we analysed how the issue – that is, the need for regulating private security – has been discussed, motivated and framed by those in power. Our results demonstrate that six conflicting and supporting frames revolved around three overarching themes: the function and position of private security, and what the government sought to protect in society. The findings of this study provide new insights into the forms, degrees and manifestations of framing private security, along with its relation to security events over time. Consequently, it offers a deeper understanding of the political field and societal conditions under which the trajectory of private security has unfolded in Belgium.