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Purpose: The purpose of the paper was to present out how Ljubljana residents know, understand and evaluate the work of private security guards. Design/Methods/Approach: A survey by internet and telephone was conducted among Ljubljana residents. The sample included residents between 18 and 75 years of age. A combined weights method was used in order to assure the representativeness of the sample by gender and age. Findings: Residents of Ljubljana are satisfied with the work performed by private security guards. Residents’ satisfaction mainly depends on their trust in security guards’ work, the help and assistance provided by security guards, security guards’ attitude towards residents and residents’ experience with security guards’ work. Residents assess their work as stressful and dangerous, however, they still believe that security guards lack education and professionalism, which is a finding, common to many other studies. Research Limitations / Implications: The survey is limited to the Ljubljana area, so a similar survey should be carried out nationwide. Practical Implications: Findings could be used by private security companies to plan adequate processes of training, professional socialisation and public relations strategies, thus increasing the degree of security guards’ professionalism. In turn, the improved professionalism would contribute greatly to a more positive assessment of security guards by residents. Originality/Value: In Slovenia, this kind of survey was conducted for the first time among the general population, as so far similar surveys have been carried out mainly among the student population. Namen prispevka: Namen prispevka je raziskati, kako prebivalci Ljubljane poznajo, razumejo in ocenjujejo delo zasebnih varnostnikov. Metode: Med prebivalci Ljubljane je bila izvedena anketa po spletu in telefonu. V vzorec so bili vključeni prebivalci med 18. in 75. letom starosti. Reprezentativnost vzorca po spolu in starosti je bila zagotovljena z metodo kombiniranih uteži. Ugotovitve: Prebivalci Ljubljane so z delom, ki ga opravljajo zasebni varnostniki, zadovoljni. Na to najbolj vplivajo zaupanje v delo varnostnikov, pomoč varnostnikov, odnos varnostnikov do prebivalcev in izkušnje z delom varnostnikov. Prebivalci ocenjujejo delo varnostnikov kot stresno in nevarno, po drugi strani pa menijo, kar izhaja tudi iz podobnih raziskav, da varnostniki niso dovolj izobraženi in profesionalni. Omejitve/uporabnost raziskave Raziskava je omejena na območje Ljubljane, zato bi bilo koristno podobno raziskavo izvesti tudi na ravni celotne države. Praktična uporabnost: Zasebnovarnostna podjetja bi lahko na osnovi ugotovitev raziskave načrtovala ustrezne procese usposabljanja, profesionalne socializacije in strategije odnosov z javnostmi, s čimer bi prispevala k večji profesionalnosti zasebnih varnostnikov, ki bi v veliki meri pripomogla k pozitivnemu vrednotenju varnostnikov med prebivalci. Izvirnost/pomembnost prispevka: Avtorji so tovrstno raziskavo prvič v Sloveniji izvedli med splošno populacijo, saj so bile doslej podobne raziskave opravljene predvsem med študentsko populacijo.

Zasebno varovanje je zelo razširjeno, saj v marsikateri državi število zasebnih varnostnikov presega celo število policistov. Zasebni varnostniki pridobivajo čedalje večja in obsežnejša pooblastila oziroma ukrepe za opravljanje svojih nalog. Zato je zelo pomembno, da jim javnost zaupa, kar pomeni, da so njihova dejanja bolj legitimna in spoštovana. Zaupanje lahko pridobijo z usposobljenostjo in učinkovitostjo, saj morajo biti prebivalci zadovoljni z njihovim delom in imeti občutek varnosti. V diplomskem delu smo ugotavljali, kakšno mnenje si je slovenska javnost ustvarila o zasebnem varovanju, pri čemer smo se omejili na študentsko populacijo. Študentje se z zasebnimi varnostniki srečujejo v nočnih klubih, v trgovskih centrih, na nogometnih tekmah in drugih športnih prireditvah, na koncertih in drugih kulturnih prireditvah ali pa tudi v študentskih domovih. Rezultati naše ankete so pokazali, da so si študentje ustvarili pozitivno mnenje o zasebnem varovanju. Večina mladih zaupa zasebnim varnostnikom in je zadovoljna z njihovim delom, ter menijo, da zasebni varnostniki primerno opravljajo svoje delo. Študentje prav tako menijo, da so zasebni varnostniki primerno usposobljeni, imajo primerne kompetence in lastnosti za opravljanje poklica. V njihovi prisotnosti se tudi počutijo varno. Private security is widespread, since, in many countries, the number of private security guards exceeds the number of police officers. Private security guards are gaining greater and more extensive powers to carry out their duties. It is therefore very important that the public trusts them, which means that their actions are more legitimate and respected. Citizens' trust is gained through competence and efficiency, as citizens must be satisfied with their work and have a sense of security. In the diploma thesis, we determined the opinion of the Slovenian public about private security, where we limited ourselves to the student population. Students meet with private security guards in nightclubs, shopping centres, at football matches and other sporting events, concerts and other cultural events, or even in student dormitories. The results of our survey showed that students have a positive opinion on private security. Most young people trust private security guards, are pleased with their work, and feel that private security guards are doing their job properly. Students also believe that private security guards are properly trained, have the appropriate competencies and qualities to pursue the profession. They also feel safe in their presence.