SECURITY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN SHOPPING MALLS  AND BUSINESS CENTRES (A STUDY OF SHOPRITE, SURULERE  LAGOS)

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Security policy is defined as the set of practices that regulate how an organization manages, protects, and assigns resources to achieve its security objectives. These security objectives must be tempered with the organizations goals and situation, and determine how the organization will apply its security objectives. This combination of the organizations goals and security objectives underlie the management controls that are applied in nearly all business practices to reduce the risks associated with fraud and human error. Security policies have evolved gradually and are based on a set of security principles. While these principles themselves are not necessarily technical, they do have implications for the technologies that are used to translate the policy into automated systems (Fayeye, 2005)

According to Ahmed (2010), the word shopping mall is used to denote a large self-service store, selling groceries, dairy products and household goods. Supermarkets are owned and operated by a wide variety of business concerns, from wealthy local individuals to giant, globally active transnational companies. The operational modalities also differ but in this paper the focus is more on ˜modernity, particularly in procurement and selling practices, rather than size of the shops. The extent of concentration in the sector is an important determinant of these practices. The procurement practices become more complicated and restrictive for suppliers as concentration, and therefore the size of purchases, increases.

In recent years we have seen shopping malls and business centres are exposed to active shooter incidents, flash mobs, assaults in the food court, car thefts and sexual predation in parking facilities. Effective mall security programs are truly a valued added service, or at least they should be. Because shopping malls and business centres are frequently involved as security experts in premises liability complaints where the assertion of inadequate security is claimed, Studies validate the notion that when shopping malls and business centres are perceived as being safe, they prosper. shopping malls and business centres perceived as unsafe are less likely to prosper and insurance premiums go up (Daily Sketch Editorial, 1990).

Shopping malls and business centres often miss the opportunity to optimize their security program because they fail to achieve the optimal balance between security personnel and the application of technology. Shopping malls and business centres understands that security personnel are among the most costly remedies, but not necessarily the most effective remedy. A significant number of security lawsuits are often caused by both the actions and/or inactions of security guards.

Both strip malls and self-contained mega-malls, must develop synergistic security programs. Synergism, when properly developed can ensure that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This means there must be a proper mix of security personnel, security technology, and security awareness training for all mall employees and tenants (Business Day, 2009).

1.2       Statement of the Problem

There is high level of insecurity in the country, particularly, in the Northern zone where ˜armed robbers has become a threat to business activities. No investor will be willing to invest where his investment is not secured. Many companies and businesses in the Northern part of the country have stopped operation due to œarmed robbers scourge. The cost of life and material resources lost to insecurity in the country since the past few years is unquantifiable. The frequent occurrence of bomb explosions, orchestrated by the acclaimed religious extremists in the northern part of the country, has assumed a worrisome dimension.

An estimated number of about 2,000 lives have been lost to bomb explosion from 2010 till date. According to security information released by Crime Guard, a security monitoring group, between March and December 2012, there were a total of 153 successful explosions in the country which claimed several lives and properties and led to closure of many businesses in the country.

As a result of insecurity in the country many shopping malls and business centres in their numbers are closing down operations in the north and relocating to other African countries for fear of loss of lives and properties. And the few remaining companies operate on skeletal bases. Insecurity in the country not only affects foreign direct investment and business activities, it also affects business confidence as many companies lost confidence in establishing businesses in some parts of the country.

1.3       Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of study is examine security policies and procedures in malls and business centres. The objectives of the study were stated as follows:

1. To ascertain whether security policies and procedures could influence the patronage of malls and business centres.
2. To determine whether security policies and procedures could control the armed threat in the malls and business centres.
3. To determine if security policies & procedures affects the image of malls and business centres in Surulere Local Government.
4. To determine if there is any relationship between security policies and procedures in the protection of life and property.

1.4       Research Questions

The following research questions were raised in the study as follows:

1. To what extent will security policies and procedures influence the patronage of malls and business centres?
2. Does security policies and procedures have control over armed robbery threat in the malls and business centres?
3. Does security policies & procedures affect the image of malls and business centres in Surulere Local Government?
4. Does security policies and procedures have any effect on protection of life and property.

1.5       Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses were formulated and tested as follows:

H_o1:     Security policies and procedures does not have influence on the patronage of malls and business centres.

H_o2:      Security policies and procedures does not have control over armed robbery threat in the malls and business centres.

1.6       Significance of the Study

This study would be of much benefit to the entire shopping malls and business centres and other educational institutions and industries in Nigeria with regard to developing effective security around the business environment.

The study will also be of great importance to the public sector in the country and in achieving peace and unity in Nigeria business environment. This study would be of much benefit to the community, religious body, government entire school administrators of secondary schools and other educational institutions and industries in Nigeria.

The outcome of this study will facilitate good governance, peace and security in Nigeria business environment. The outcome of study will aid effective leadership styles that will promotes healthy business environment and security in Nigeria.

The outcome of study will aid availability and utilization of natural resources that will promote security protection in Nigeria business environment. The study will aid justice for all and peace and security in Nigeria. The outcome of study will enhance rule of law towards peace and security in Nigeria.

Schools and institution output would also increase since teachers and workers are expected to put in their best, after being motivated, thus promote the profit margin of the organizations and academic excellence in schools.

Furthermore, the whole society will enjoy relative peace as teachers, other workers and employers clash would have been curtailed as a result of the good treatment the former would received from the latter.

1.7       Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study will particularly cover the security policies and procedures of Shoprite Shopping Mall, Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos and focus mainly on the area. This is because the researcher does not have sufficient time and money to conduct a state wide study on all the Local Government area of Lagos State, let alone extending same to other local government areas in Lagos State.

1.8       Operational Definition of Terms

Security: Security is broadly viewed as freedom from danger or threats to an individual or a nation. It is the ability to protect and defect oneself, be it an individual or a nation its cherished values and legitimate interests and the enhancement of wellbeing

Security policy: Security policy is a definition of what it means to be secure for a system, organization or other entity. For an organization, it addresses the constraints on behavior of its members as well as constraints imposed on adversaries by mechanisms such as doors, locks, keys and walls.

Shopping Mall: A shopping mall is a modern, chiefly North American, term for a form of shopping precinct or shopping center, in which one or more buildings form a complex of shops.

Business environment:  Business environment is the sum total of all external and internal factors that influence a business.

Peace:  Peace is a condition in which there is no social conflict and individuals and groups are able to meet their needs, aspirations and expectations. Peace in this sense can be explained from the perspective of structural functionalism.

Conflict: This refers to war, revolution or other struggles, which may involve the use of force as in term of armed conflict.

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