Effective security in gated communities and guarded neighbourhood in Malaysia

Abstract

The popularity of the gated communities and guarded neighbourhood in Malaysia and around the world has grown on the ecology of fear and the desire of consumers for the safety of their lives and properties in their homes and surroundings. Reports of break-ins in gated communities and guarded neighbhourhood are appearing in local media from time to time which shows that the management of gated communities is not ideal. There exist no criteria for effective security in gated communities. It was thus imperative to study and design a model that could ensure the security and safety of the residents in these communities. For this, the objectives of this research were to develop the concept, criteria and model of effective security management of gated communities. The criteria for effective security was intended to be developed based on the perceptions of the developers, architects, management corporations, private security services firms, government bodies, and residents. Therefore both qualitative and quantitative research methods were used. Semistructured interviews were carried out among developers, architects, private security services firms, security experts and government bodies related to security industry. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the service providers to get their point of view on the criteria for effective security management of gated communities and guarded neighbourhood, improvement, and the process of security practices. Thematic and descriptive analysis of the data showed 42 important criteria and subcriteria, based on which a model for effective security management of gated communities and guarded neighbourhood was proposed. The model was validated and modified at the end of the study. The study, therefore, proposes a model based on 5 main criteria, that are physical security design, organizational principles, organizational structure, and physical technology design. This model can enhance the effectiveness of security firms, residential associations as well as developers in the planning and construction of secure gated communities. The success of the proposed model may be considered a factor in justification of gated community and guarded neighbourhood as a good club.