Competences of Security Guards in Slovenia as Assessed by Users and Security Managers
Purpose:
The purpose of this paper is to reveal the competence of security guards, mainly through the eyes of security managers and users of security services, in the area of security personnel’s competence in carrying out security tasks. In this paper, we wish to ascertain how the guards’ competencies are assessed by security managers and security service users, and if their assessments differ. We also analyse whether there are differences between the competencies self-assessed by private security guards and how they are assessed by their managers and service users.
Methods:
For the purposes of the literature review, we analysed domestic and foreign sources and domestic legislation, and conducted a quantitative survey on competencies with all three groups (users of security services, security managers, security guards). For the data collection, we employed a questionnaire to evaluate competencies using a five-point scale.
Findings:
The findings suggest security guards’ interpersonal competencies are evaluated better by the users of security services than by security guards themselves. Both security guards and security managers assessed themselves similarly in terms of their own interpersonal competencies. To realise the full potential of the non-government institutional, as well as non-institutional, provision of security, the mentality of the management structures of both the users and providers of security services must change, while also better educating the security personnel, ensuring a suitable salary for their work, and demanding the correct performance of their tasks and duties.
Originality/Value:
The paper provides a useful starting point in the field of private security for the development of competence models, which should be based on employee competencies and security services users’ needs.
UDC: 351.746.2(479.4)
Keywords: private security, security guards, security managers, users of security services, competencies, quality