The term 'armed security guard' creates inappropriate associations in lay – and, unfortunately, often also professional – circles. From a grammatical point of view, the term means a security guard on duty with a weapon. If this is not the case, what distinguishes it from the real thing? Where does armed security guarding fit into the domestic law enforcement structure and what are its specialities and problems? What historical context has shaped the organisation into its present form? Is armed security guarding, which is considered by many to be unique and has a Hungarian model, really a Hungaricum? What other countries have similar organisations in this field? How can the current structure cope with the challenges of modern policing?
Aim: The aim of the paper is to present the place, role and current state of armed security guarding in the law enforcement structure in a way that the historical and international perspective help to understand the reasons for the current situation and problems.
Methodology: The paper describes, presents and examines the aspects that have led to the current form of armed security guarding.
Findings: The study aims to clarify the nature of armed security guarding. The study also seeks to demonstrate that armed security guarding has an increasing role in the present and will continue to have in the future, while at the same time the preparation to meet the law enforcement challenges of our time must begin as soon as possible.
Value: The scientific value of the study is that it can provide a basis for the professionalisation of the regulation of armed security guarding.