scholarly journals The un Guidelines on the Use of Armed Guards

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-491 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elke Krahmann
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Private Security ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
New Guidelines ◽  
The Military ◽  
Industry Associations

In 2012, the United Nations approved new Guidelines on the Use of Armed Private Security Companies by its agencies, funds and programmes. The Guidelines hold the potential to not only enhance the quality of armed security services contracted by the un, but also raise professional standards within the military and security industry more generally by serving as a model for other consumers and companies. Nevertheless, a close reading of the Guidelines indicates that there is still room for improvements. Drawing on best practices identified by industry associations, major clients and academic research, this article makes six recommendations for revision. Specifically, the article contends that expanding the scope, content and enforcement of the Guidelines would contribute to strengthening the control over private security contractors.

Market Opportunities and Political Responsibilities: The Difficult Development of Chinese Private Security Companies Abroad

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-45
Author(s):  
Andrea Ghiselli
Keyword(s):  
Private Security ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Initial Development ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
Chinese Policy ◽  
Market Opportunities ◽  
Overseas Operations ◽  
Security Companies

Building upon the conceptual work of Krahmann and Habermas, this study explains how political power and market forces in China combined to create an enormous domestic market for overseas security services and, at the same time, undermined the full development of domestic private security companies (PSCs). The growing responsiveness of the state to the request for protection of Chinese citizens and assets abroad made room for the initial development of Chinese PSCs’ overseas operations. However, the policy makers’ focus on political loyalty has inhibited the full-fledged maturation of China’s private security industry. So far, large foreign PSCs have been the main beneficiaries of this situation. The future development of Chinese PSCs remains possible in a gradual and pragmatic way, but Chinese policy makers will have to deal with important diplomatic and political questions before the development of any “Chinese Blackwater” will be imaginable.

scholarly journals Human rights violations committed by private military and security companies: an international law analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 753-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elzbieta Karska
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Private Security ◽  
International Community ◽  
Human Rights Violations ◽  
Real Problem ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
Private Security Industry ◽  
International Conventions ◽  
Security Companies

Abstract: This paper is devoted to the growing phenomenon of the private military and security industry with respect to human rights obligations. In the first part, it will analyze the concept of a private security company, which is not clear in national regulations and has few relevant provisions in international conventions. The second part will contain a short description of examples of human rights violations committed by private military and security companies, or with their participation, during service delivery or other forms of activity. The third part of this paper discusses possible methods of responsibility enforcement, with respect to the transnational character of many private security companies involved in human rights violations worldwide. One of the most important elements of the discussion in international community should focus on binding international instrument, preferably a convention, which would be able to establish at least very elementary rules for states and international organizations, responsible for using private military and security companies. The international community has witnessed a lot of initiatives from non-governmental entities, also model laws and self-regulations of the private security industry, but still the real problem has not even been reduced. The number of human rights violations has grown. Keywords: Human rights. Private security companies. Liability.

Private Security Companies and Institutional Legitimacy: Corporate and Stakeholder Responsibility

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 403-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Elms ◽  
Robert A. Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Private Security ◽  
Moral Obligations ◽  
Public Provision ◽  
Moral Legitimacy ◽  
Institutional Legitimacy ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
Responsible Behavior ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Security Companies

ABSTRACTThe private provision of security services has attracted a great deal of recent attention, both professional and popular. Much of that attention suggests the questioned moral legitimacy of the private vs. public provision of security. Linking the literature on moral legitimacy and responsibility from new institutional and stakeholder theories, we examine the relationship between moral legitimacy and responsible behavior by both private security companies (PSCs) and their stakeholders. We ask what the moral-legitimacy-enhancing responsibilities of both might be, and contribute to both literatures and their managerial implications by detailing the content of those responsibilities, emphasizing the reciprocal nature of moral obligations. We suggest that the moral legitimacy of the industry depends upon responsible behavior by both PSCsandtheir stakeholders.

Private security companies and domestic violence: A welcome new development?

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diarmaid Harkin ◽  
Kate Fitz-Gibbon
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Private Security ◽  
Protective Services ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
The Poor ◽  
New Development ◽  
Private Security Industry

Due to the poor reputation of the private security industry and the multiple lines of concerns raised by scholars over the potentially corrosive costs of commercial security provision, it is important to consider whether for-profit companies are a welcome addition to the network of actors who respond to the needs of domestic violence victims. Using the case study of ‘Protective Services’ in Victoria, Australia, who appear to be one of the first known instances of a private security company offering services to victims of domestic violence, we argue that there may be advantages for victims engaging with commercial providers and reasons for optimism that commercial outfits can improve feelings of safety for a particularly vulnerable and under-protected population.

scholarly journals “ACCESSIBILITY TO MINIMUM WAGE AND WAGE-INCOME DETERMINANTS: A STUDY OF THE RESIDENTIAL AND NONRESIDENTIAL PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS IN THE CITY OF AHMEDABAD”

2021 ◽  
pp. 556-664
Author(s):  
Samir Mahajan
Keyword(s):  
Minimum Wage ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Private Security ◽  
Security Guards ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Private Security Industry ◽  
The City ◽  
And Training ◽  
Wage Income

Demand for security services has exploded both for residential and non-residential premises due to mounting urbanization, rapid industrialization, and expansion of trade and commerce activities in the country in recent years. This has created enormous opportunity for employment specially for the poor who otherwise may have the least possibility securing a job. The private security industry being abysmally informal, it is perceived that workers here are underpaid. As such the plight of the guards have not improved much in this sector. The city of Ahmedabad is one of the major consumersofprivate security services. Income being one of the prominent determinants of well-being, it would be interesting to look into the aspect of accessibility to prescribed minimum wage,and examine what determines wage of the private security guards in this city.More specifically, this paper endeavours to throw light on the probability of access to minimum wage bythe guards at residential and non-residential premises in the city, and examine the various determinants affecting the income wage of the guards. Pertinent econometric modelshave been constructed for the purpose of the study. Result of data analysis shows that access to minimum wage is not universally entitled to the private security guards in the city of Ahmedabad. The study finds that the residential guards has less chance of having access to minimum wage than that of their non-residential counter in the city. However, both education and training have some positive bearing on the wage income of the guards.

Contestation, Cooperation, and Competition in (Re)Defining European Security

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandra Gheciu
Keyword(s):  
Private Security ◽  
European Security ◽  
East European ◽  
Security Governance ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Cooperation And Competition ◽  
Private Security Industry ◽  
Communist Countries

Chapter 4 continues the exploration of practices of insertion of East European polities in the European field of security. Here, the focus is on the bigger picture of European security governance. Specifically, the chapter explores performances of security through which private security actors—including, increasingly, PSCs from former communist countries—seek to enhance their power and play more prominent roles in European security governance. In recent years, one of the most interesting developments in the European field of security has been the growing mobilization of the private security industry—especially within the framework of the Confederation of European Security Services (CoESS)—in an effort to enhance its role in security governance and security provision.

Business Continuity Management and the Influence of Strategic Factors: The Case of Private Security Companies in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (10) ◽  
pp. 429-443
Author(s):  
Eric E. Mangunyi ◽  
Krishna K. Govender
Keyword(s):  
Leadership Style ◽  
Private Security ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Business Continuity ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
Business Continuity Management ◽  
Strategic Factors ◽  
Day To Day Operations ◽  
Using Data

Thepurpose of this study was to investigatethe influence of strategic characteristics on business continuity management (BCM) among Kenyan private security services companies, since contemporary organizations face unprecedented risks which may interrupt their day to day operations and/or at worst,negatively impact their future existence. An integrative model of the relationship among organisational structure, resources, leadership style, systems and BCM was developed and tested using data from 142 security companies.The results suggest that the company structure (CS), support systems (CSS) and resources (CR) have a direct, positive and significant effect on BCM.It was also ascertained that leadership style (LS) hasnegative but significant,effect on BCM, and CR exerted a greater influence on BCM, than other factors.It may be concluded that there are some generally applicable underlying drivers of BCM, which  organisations need to embrace during planning. To increase generalizability, future studies should be extended to other service institutions.

scholarly journals Public or private? Blurring the lines through YouTube recruitment of military veterans by private security companies

2021 ◽  
pp. 146144482110479
Author(s):  
Jutta Joachim ◽  
Andrea Schneiker
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Corporate Identity ◽  
Private Security ◽  
Hiring Practices ◽  
The Public ◽  
Private Security Companies ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Privatization Of Security ◽  
The Military ◽  
Security Companies

Private security companies (PSCs) blur the lines between the public and the private sector through the provision of services to state militaries. Based on a multi-modal qualitative content analysis of YouTube recruitment videos aimed at veterans, we show how PSCs also challenge these boundaries through their hiring practices. By relating to veterans’ past as hero warriors and by envisioning their future as corporate soldiers, the companies appear as ‘like-military’ and as allowing ex-militaries to ‘continue their mission’. The findings contribute to scholarly debates about the privatization of security. They illustrate that similarly to the public sector, the private is also re-constituted through the military values that veterans introduce. The study adds to the literature on the visualization of war showing how video-based platforms allow security actors such as PSCs to construct their corporate identity in ambivalent ways by appealing to different emotional levels and by giving rise to different narratives.

scholarly journals La sécurité privée et le problème de la confiance : l’expérience australienne

Criminologie ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Prenzler
Keyword(s):  
Private Security ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Security Services ◽  
Security Industry ◽  
Incident Reports ◽  
Private Security Industry ◽  
Partnership Approach

The private security industry in Australia, as in many jurisdictions, has been beset by allegations of fraud, abuse of powers and incompetence. These problems are illustrated through trade practices, prosecutions, government inquiries, incident reports and other sources. Causation is analysed in terms of Shapiro's (1987) formulation of the problem of "policing trust". The substantial delegation of responsibility entailed in security work makes it highly vulnerable to exploitation and fraud, and this potential is exacerbated by the inadequate regulation of security services. Mitigation of these problems is suggested though an enhanced partnership approach of government and the security industry to regulatory control, an through an assessment of the benefits of in-house security.

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