Shopping Mall Security Discussed at BAU

The "Shopping Mall Security Conference," organized in collaboration between Bahçeşehir University and City Security Group, was held at BAU Beşiktaş Campus. At the conference, shopping malls were discussed from sectoral and legal perspectives with the participation of expert speakers

Bahçeşehir University hosted the "Shopping Mall Security Conference" on Wednesday, 15 January. At the conference, organized in collaboration with BAU, City Security Group, Global Security Group and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, the opening speeches were delivered by BAU President Prof. Dr. Şenay Yalçın and CSG Chairman of the Board Osman Öztürk.

BAU President Prof. Dr. Yalçın stated that, according to research, when choosing between shopping malls, consumers now look not only at brand options but also at how safe the malls are. Stating that shopping malls are indispensable places where consumer groups from different segments come together to meet their needs, spend time or for social activities, Yalçın said that BAU has developed programs for business and security personnel working in shopping malls to receive special training enabling them to assess all kinds of security risks.

AN ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE SECURITY SECTOR

Speaking at the conference moderated by BAU Head of the Department of Sociology Prof. Dr. Nilüfer Narlı, City Security Group Chairman of the Board Osman Öztürk stated that the number of shopping malls, which was 333 as of 2013, is expected to rise to 368 by the end of this year. Explaining that they are collaborating with BAU, Öztürk stated that through this collaboration they aim to bring an academic perspective to the security sector. Öztürk also talked about figures related to the sector. Stating that the number of shopping mall visitors in Türkiye reached 1.6 billion in 2013, Öztürk said: "The figures show that 63 percent of visitors also shop." Öztürk also explained that as of the end of 2013, shopping malls had reached more than 385 thousand employees, 60 billion in turnover, 9.2 million square meters of space and 59 thousand stores.

"WE DO NOT HAVE A MAJOR SECURITY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN"

BAU Faculty of Law faculty member Prof. Dr. Feridun Yenisey also drew attention to interesting topics at the conference. Examining the issue of shopping mall security from a legal perspective, Yenisey emphasized that security planning should be done by assessing needs. Stating that it is important to also take the public's opinion into account when determining security needs, Yenisey said: "The country does not have a major security implementation plan. It is not known who will do what in an emergency. General prevention plans need to be made and managed from a single center."

"RECORDING IN SHOPPING MALLS IS UNLAWFUL"

Stating that the laws contain ambiguities regarding private security, Yenisey emphasized that according to the law, private security teams cannot use handcuffs, batons, pepper spray or force. He said: "Private security guards can carry weapons but cannot use them like the police and law enforcement. They cannot conduct searches either; they can only carry out checks."

Explaining that with the law amended in 2010, the camera recording systems in shopping malls fall under the heading of "recording aimed at collecting personal data" and that this is unlawful, Yenisey said: "Recording in shopping malls is unlawful; storing personal data is a crime. Once the law is involved, it is quite difficult to get out of it."

Global Security Group President David S. Katz stated that security officers are the first to come to mind in matters such as possible theft, fire, lost property and lost children in shopping malls, and said that trained and expert private security officers leave a positive impression on shopping mall visitors. Explaining that the program, in which security experts from the US will take part, will follow a training approach in line with Turkish culture and laws, Katz stated that their goal is to create a safe shopping environment.

"OPENING CAR TRUNKS NO LONGER HAS ANY DETERRENT EFFECT"

In his speech titled "A Look at Shopping Mall Security," Private Security Federation Chairman of the Board Oryal Ünver stated that X-ray devices and door detectors in shopping malls began to be used in the 1990s, and said: "Everyone now knows that opening car trunks and X-ray devices at shopping mall entrances are used for deterrence. They no longer have any deterrent effect. That is why we need to stop being ridiculous and remove these practices," adding that technology should be closely followed for deterrence.

The salaries of private security officers were also discussed at the conference. Stating that the salaries of private security officers in shopping malls are not satisfactory, Ünver said that the livelihood concerns of the people entrusted with private security should be taken into account. Ünver said: "Private security should be results-oriented rather than employment-oriented. Security services should be priced as a security service, not according to the number of personnel." Stating that security certificates have been issued to 1 million 62 thousand people to date, Ünver added that about one quarter of this number work as private security officers.