On Hypengyophobia: Security Officer’s Fear of Accountability

• In Event: Police Behavior and Accountability

Abstract

Based on fieldwork among operational security officers working in two Northwest European ports, it became clear these security officer possess a critical attitude towards having and executing their authority. In particular the possibility of being weaponized was found problematic and they were afraid of being weaponized themselves. Overall, it reveals a different, and quite opposite attitude towards having and executing authority, then is generally acknowledged in (critical) criminological, as well as security and policing studies literature. This paper will explore to which extent (the stereotype of) security officers being power hungry and envious of the police’s authority is a correct reflection of port security realities. That exploration will be contrasted with empirical evidence about their worry and fear of using power and of accountability, which will indicate that the private policing agents, responsibilized for making port communities feel safer and the port as highly important global critical infrastructure more secure, are fearful and risk-averse themselves. Meaning that, if the private policing guardians, who are part of fearful and control-obsessed societies, do not want to have (more) authorities out of fear of being held accountable, giving them more powers (especially weaponization) is counterproductive in delivering security.

Author

• Yarin Eski, Liverpool John Moores University