In developed countries, since professional private security industry has stepped into field, a revolutionary change has begun to rise in the safety of such societies. Private security Industry is not a substitute of Law Enforcement Authorities but it can support the Authorities in enforcing laws. Major duties and services of Private Security in developed countries are Patrols, Investigations, Emergency Alarm systems, Surveillance service, Security consulting, Loss prevention, and guards dog supply, but not only limited to it. Private guards in these societies are extremely Professional in dealing with incidents of fire, to provide first aid services and coming to the rescue incase of accidents.
Private Security has not only reduced the crime rate but it has contributed a lot in the economy of the country by generating revenue, and thus it has distributed the financial burden of the country. Furthermore, Private Security has injected a sense of Security into Industrial sector. In developed societies, automatic Security equipments and guards are deployed in industrial sectors, markets, educational institutions and even in public places. A licensed authority regulates these guards. Since 1990, the globe has witnessed a remarkable increase in Private security industry. According to a research report, there are more than 20 million Private Security guards across the globe, while the ratio of private security guards to police in Pakistan is 2 to 1 where almost 500,000 Private guards are performing duties.
It is important for the company to get the Security clearance of its guard from the Ministry of Interior or GHQ prior to his training. In developed societies the average salary of a private guard is up to 12$ a day and 360 dollars per month, while in underdevelopment countries like Pakistan the average salary is less than 3.5$ a day and 90$ per month
As our Private Security Industry is still passing through its early stages, we are still employing human resource instead of a professional Security system. Our Security system is traditionally known as ‘Chowkidary system’. The most important part of the story is that in developed countries a Security guard needs to get Security clearance from the Government authority; like in Abu Dhabi. It is important for the company to get the Security clearance of its guard from the Ministry of Interior or GHQ prior to his training. In developed societies the average salary of a private guard is up to 12$ a day and 360 dollars per month, while in underdevelopment countries like Pakistan the average salary is less than 3.5 $ a day and 90 dollars per month.
Moreover, our Security companies are not getting the proper Security clearance of their guards from the relevant authorities like NADRA during their recruiting process. Our industrialists often feel that they should not bear this extra burden since they are paying a huge sum of money in form of taxes. They keep quiet as the current situation of our country is not stable due to terrorism. Our banking sector is the most affected sector of robber’s attacks as it lost billions of rupees.
According to the reports, more than 17 Million rupees were robbed from the banks in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi during the year 2017; while 90 Million were robbed from a bank near Multan. Thus, providing security to these industries is not limited to government agencies.
In many developed countries, where the Private Security Industry has got the Professional maturity, qualified Security companies are even providing investigation assistance to the government. Therefore, the government has awarded some police functions to these Security companies but they are not allowed to work as private Security force. Though, the security scholars are raising questions on the hiring process of the guards, but their performance is still outstanding in assisting enforcement agencies in enforcing the law that’s why they have been trusted.
In 2010, fifty leading Private Security companies signed an international code of conduct in Geneva to make this Industry more secure and to protect the rights of guards. In Pakistan, Private Security companies are regulated under provincial ordinance and are in the control of interior departments. But there is a huge space in the quality assurance and security clearance of these companies as robbers can easily enjoy their dreams by joining the Private Security companies.
Our central government should take initiatives to review the Private Security Industry. It is also necessary to monitor and evaluate the security companies through a central private Security Authority. To deal with this sector, the Government must reconsider to establish a separate Federal Private Security Regulatory Authority. It will indeed play a tremendous role to enhance and upgrade the Private Security Industry in our country.
The writer is a Security Professional, and he worked for SIRA, Dubai
Published in Daily Times, October 30th 2018.