The Relationship between Private Security Service Providers and National Security Organs in Crime Prevention in Lurambi Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

In the last three decades, there have been debates on how private security has taken over the State's role in providing policing and security services to the public. Previously, the State has enjoyed the preserve and the privilege of being a monopolist in providing the services mentioned above. However, due to the dynamic changing nature of the crime, numerous calls have been made to establish public-private partnerships between the State and private security in policing and security-related services. This study sought to investigate the relationship between private security service providers and national security organs in crime prevention in Lurambi Sub-county, Kenya. The study was underpinned in the Routine Activity and Situational Crime Prevention Theories of criminology. The study adopted descriptive and correlational research designs. The primary target population constituted 358 respondents, both male and female, drawn from six registered and regulated private security service providers in Lurambi Sub-County, 5 senior police officers in charge of security, police administration, and 4 police stations across Lurambi Sub-County, and 133 clients of private security services. Purposive sampling was used to identify the 6 registered and licensed private security firms which provided the study population. Proportionate sampling with a statistical framework of 30% was used to identify 108 private security service providers who formed the sample size to ensure that the private security officers from the 6 firms were represented in the same proportion that they existed within the population. Questionnaires were used to collect data from three groups of respondents, including 108 private security officers, 6 managers each in charge of each private security firm that participated in the study, and 40 clients sampled from the 6 private security firms that participated in the study. Interview guides were used to collect data from 5 senior police officers in charge of security, police administration, and 4 police stations spread across Lurambi Sub-County. Study findings revealed a statistically significant but weak relationship between private security service providers and national security organs in crime prevention (r=.469; P<0.05). This implied that even though increased collaboration between private security service providers and the national security organs can significantly enhance crime prevention, there is currently limited interaction in that regard. As a consequence of the findings, the study recommended that private security service companies enhance collaboration and networking with State law enforcement agencies to enhance crime prevention.