"Don't Come" Security Guard Effect Evident... Positive Outcomes from Police-Civil Collaboration

National Police Agency's 'Private Security Guard Support Project' Pilot Operation
All Supported Individuals Reported Feeling 'Safe'

Ms. A was harassed by her ex-husband, who had served an 8-month prison sentence for domestic violence, through phone calls, text messages, and leaving items in front of her house, constituting stalking behavior. The police booked the ex-husband and decided to provide private security support for Ms. A. One night, when the intoxicated ex-husband tried to approach Ms. A late at night, a private security guard on duty intervened, and the ex-husband fled after uttering insults. Upon receiving the report, the police apprehended the ex-husband wandering near the residence and detained him.

Photo by Asia Economy DB

As stalking crimes have increased, the number of victims requesting personal protection has also risen, and the private security support project piloted by the National Police Agency has proven effective.

The National Police Agency conducted a pilot project from June 12 to December 31 last year in the Seoul, Incheon, Southern Gyeonggi, and Northern Gyeonggi Police Agencies to provide private security support to high-risk crime victims, such as those at high risk of additional harm from stalking and domestic violence.

This private security support project selected recipients after approval from the city or provincial police chief when the risk level on the risk assessment checklist was classified as "very high" or when the risk of additional harm was deemed particularly high due to the perpetrator’s release or dismissal of an arrest warrant. The recipients received close protection for up to 10 hours a day and within 14 days per session from two security guards belonging to private security companies contracted by the National Police Agency.

During the pilot period, the National Police Agency provided private security support to a total of 98 crime victims. By region, there were 48 cases in Seoul, 7 in Incheon, 35 in Southern Gyeonggi, and 8 in Northern Gyeonggi. By case type, there were 55 stalking cases, 11 domestic violence cases, 9 dating violence cases, 9 assault and intimidation cases, and 7 sexual violence cases.

Most private security support recipients were women (91), and the relationship with the perpetrator was most often that of former lovers or ex-spouses/current spouses. In addition to private security support, the police provided smartwatches and intelligent CCTV depending on the situation, and actively investigated perpetrators, resulting in 24 arrests and 6 provisional measures (detentions) during the private security period.

Notably, there were no cases of victims suffering harm from perpetrators during or after the private security period. There were 5 cases in which security guards immediately intervened and reported to the police when perpetrators tried to approach victims during private security, resulting in 4 arrests or detentions.

After the pilot period, the National Police Agency conducted a survey of victims, and all respondents expressed satisfaction with the private security support and felt safe from the risk of retaliation by perpetrators during the private security period.

A survey of 173 police officers responsible for private security support also showed that most evaluated the private security as effective in alleviating victims’ anxiety and preventing further crimes by perpetrators.

The National Police Agency plans to continue the private security support project this year for high-risk crime victims in Seoul, Incheon, and Gyeonggi areas, and aims to expand it nationwide by 2025 with increased budget allocation.

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, stated, “This private security support project is a model case of co-production of public safety services, where the police actively utilized private expertise and human resources to protect crime victims and achieved meaningful results. We will continue to do our best to protect the peaceful daily lives of the public, including crime victims, through civil-police cooperation and scientific policing.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.