Actual Questions of the Hungarian Private Security Market

Abstract

Security implies a stable and relatively predictable environment, in which an individual or group may pursue its ends without disruption or harm and without fear or injury. This paper intends to summarize the place of private security in the Hungarian law enforcement system, arguing that it is a very important complementary element of the security mechanism. In our view, law enforcement is not only police administration; it covers a more complex activity, the implementation of which is shared between police service and other complementary law enforcement services. As such, private security is an important additional security mechanism in society and, together with other public and private policing/security organisations, part of contemporary plural policing family. However, despite the growing importance and need for prosperity and high-quality private security, the market suffers from several anomalies. First of all, the legislation suffers a considerable drawback, making it impossible for those in the trade to fulfil their duty. The Hungarian Chamber of Bodyguards, Property Protection and Private Detectives is supposed to play an important role in the private security as a professional representative organisation. However, since the cancellation of mandatory membership, it has lost significance. Another difficulty for private security companies and the whole sector is labor shortage. The number of certified agents is decreasing dramatically. Finally, we present how the current harmonization of the Act of Private Security with the GDPR might lead to legal uncertainty with regard to the use of electronic surveillance system.