Youth’s contacts with private security guards: compulsive and assistive encounters

Abstract

ABSTRACT Security guards operate largely in places attended by youth in contemporary urban areas, which is conducive to different interactions between both. However, prior research has mainly focused on youngsters’ contacts with the police, and little is known about their encounters with security officers. Using a survey, this study aims to analyse two fundamental types of contacts – compulsive and assistive – between youngsters and security guards. More specifically, it seeks to assess the prevalence of both types of encounters and to explore which factors explain their occurrence. Findings from a sample of 631 high school students from Lisbon and Porto (Portugal) showed that assistive contacts are much more frequent than compulsive contacts. Involvement in antisocial and delinquent behaviours and exposure to security guards increased the likelihood of compulsive contacts. However, males were also more prone to be targeted, suggesting a social bias based on sex. Assistive contacts, in turn, were associated with exposure to security guards, risk perception of victimisation, and the perception of security guards’ role as important for the security of society. The results will be discussed considering four main theoretical theses: differential selection, involvement, exposure, and insecurity theses.