ARE PRIVATE SECURITY GUARDS CAPABLE OF PROTECTING LIFE AND PROPERTY? EXPLORING RUSSIAN YOUTH'S PERCEPTIONS

In the recent decades private security industry has grown significantly both worldwide and in Russia. In this article we examine Russian citizens', more specifically, youth perceptions of private security guards who come in contact with private citizens. We examine public attitudes toward the nature of security guards' work as it relates to their professionalism, effectiveness, and civility. We also analyze the degree to which students are satisfied with the guards' work. Data for this research is drawn from a sample of 191 college students attending various universities in St. Petersburg, Russia. Our findings suggest that Russian students are ambivalent in general about the nature of security work, security guards' professionalism and effectiveness. Overall, students are satisfied with the guards' services or demonstrate neutral attitudes. However, positive contact with security guards appeared to be a strong predictor of their positive views. Therefore, private security companies should pay more attention to the guards' training related to everyday interactions with citizens. Findings also suggest that there are group differences in terms of age, gender, and income in their views about the various dimensions of private security guards' work. Females, younger people as well as students with lower income tend to have higher assessment of security guards' professionalism, effectiveness, and civility. State regulation of the private security industry and industry regulations should aim at influencing the factors that contribute to positive citizens' assessments of private security guards.