Preventive Measures in Amok Situations – Foreign Experiences and Slovenian Reality
Purpose:
The purpose of the article is to define the concept of amok events, present their causes and prevalence, examine preventive measures in Slovenia, and determine the competence of the Slovenian police to act in such situations.
We used a literature review method, namely, we systematically reviewed previous research using a qualitative method. To determine the competence of the Slovenian police in responding to amok situations, we used a survey among instructors of practical self-defence procedures, who are responsible for training of police officers and providing competency assessments in this area.
Findings:
We found that countries with a long-standing tradition of handling amok events have a much more developed system of prevention and awareness of preventive measures. Most practical procedure and self-defence instructors in Slovenia train police officers using the situational training method with the Simunition system, which they rated with an average score of 4.4 (on a scale from 1 to 5, where 5 reflects the highest value). They rated the positive effects of joint training with other services with an average score of 4.8. However, instructors rated the preparedness of police officers to handle amok events with an average score of 2.5.
Research Limitations / Implications:
In our study, we were limited by the research available in the European context, as there are not many studies and analysed cases. Consequently, we relied more on findings from the United States of America. When assessing the preparedness of Slovenian police officers, we based our assessment solely on the opinions of practical procedure and self-defence instructors, who provided their evaluation of preparedness, without seeking assessments from management structures.
Practical Implications:
The paper explains amok events, lists recognizable signs of potential perpetrators, and outlines preventive measures in case such situations occur.
Originality/Value:
The paper addresses an unexplored topic in Slovenia, which is increasingly appearing in our vicinity. Security incidents with some elements of amok situations have already occurred in our country. By listing the signs of potential perpetrators, the article suggests ways to eliminate the causes and take actions in such acts occur.
UDC: 351.741
Keywords: amok events, prevention, police measures, institutional measures