Abstract:
Shopping centers are classified as public buildings. It is a place where people come to use the activity area. Therefore, security is important to the well-being of life and property users. This study aims to build understanding in security management in shopping centers using empirical study guidelines. It is a case study of 6 shopping centers in Bangkok includes (1) Erawan (2) Gaysorn (3) Amarin (4) MBK (5) Century, and (6) Palladium. Scope of study is security at the management level and operational level. Data were collected by search, exploration and interview. Then the data were analyzed and discussed as the results. The study found that security management starts from setting a security policy that is consistent with the business of organization and security measure is defined. It is found that the shipping centers in the case study have policy and measure focusing on protecting the lives of users of buildings and property. The safety management processes begins with a survey and identify threats and weaknesses. Potential threats must take into account the surrounding elements of the shopping center, physical location, main entrance to the shopping center, entrance gate and corridor, environment within shopping center, the roaming area includes building users, how to use the building, political situation, surrounding context of the shopping center. Shopping centers in the case study have identified threats including invasions, riots, theft, assembly, terrorist, protests and bombing. The risk was assessed and the area was divided into high risk area and low risk area. It is found that shopping center A, B and C identified outside area or the area surrounded and the shopping center corridor with heavy traffic as high risk area while area inside the shopping center or internal corridor are considered as low risk area. To lead the way to operating security, operational methods should be consistent with security policy and measures, surrounding context of the center, physical location of the shopping center, building users, and the use of building. It is found that there are security guards to prevent threats. They stay at the security checkpoint. Technology that is used to support the security measure, beside CCTV, is a mobile metal detector or metal detector booth. There are also staffing patrol and observational measures which focuses on surveillance of the area around the building which the entrance to the internal area of building. There are staff patrol, observational measures, supporting technology beside CCTV which is guardtour focusing on Surveillance of the disaster within the area, in the traffic area within the chopping center and car park. The composition of security of Shopping Center A, B, C is similar and security supporting technology is also associated with the high risk area in term of using the tool to increase the concentration of safety.