Citizens’ Views of Private Security Guards in Hungary: A Preliminary Analysis

Absztrakt

One of the features of emerging markets is the potential for an expanded role for the private police – a substitute crime prevention strategy in times of rapid decline in state funding of public police, has become commonplace in countries around the world. While much research has explored the citizens’ assessment of police officers, we know little about how the public perceives private security guards (PSGs). In this paper, we assess the citizens’ perceptions of private security guards. Drawing data from 800 citizens in Budapest, Hungary, we assess if factors such as citizens’ contact experience and their perceptions about the guards’ professionalism, imagery and civility influences their views about their obligation to obey private police officers. Findings of policy implications are discussed.