The mounting Rs 27,000-crore private security industry in India is likely to gobble a huge chunk of jobs of the police like passport verifications, summons and pre-employment verifications of government and PSU employees that engage 30% of police force at present.

The high-employment-potential industry has increased its headcount by one million annually in the last three years and as per the Central Association of Private Security, it is likely to grow by 25% in next few years in India.

The burgeoning industry has opened new vistas for amateurs and exiting companies. Meanwhile, companies engaged in private security have already given signals of consolidation and organized makeover as the two different deals struck by Indian private companies is pegged at over Rs 300 crore.

Experts in the industry maintain that relevance of private security industry emerges from the fact that it is almost impossible for the government agencies to ensure round-the- clock security that private security guards can provide. Already the ratio of private security personnel to police in India is 2:1 and will 3:1 soon.

“The Private Detectives Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2007 that is likely to get nod from the Parliament by next year would liberate police force of various jobs that don’t have direct relation with manning law and order,” Kunwar Vikram Singh, president of the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) and association of Private Detectives of India (APDI) told FE.

Over 5,000 training institutes are required in India to groom youngsters, said Singh, managing director of Lancers Network. “The Indian private security companies and personnel would leverage by outsourcing expertise to other countries,” he said.

On cards is formation of the Central Private Detective Agencies Regulatory Board and the State Regulatory Boards and the provisions to provide due representation to the trade associations. These boards will decide about certification, training and other regulatory processes. The bill has been referred to the standing committee of the Parliament.

Expert services like

Corporate Intelligence, Personal Investigation, Cyber Investigation and under corporate intelligence that includes due diligence analysis, financial background checks could pay as high basic minimum salary to Rs 50,000.

Courses like Vocational Diploma in Security & Intelligence Management (VDSIM), Diploma in Security & Intelligence Management (DSIM) for graduates, Vocational Diploma in Security & Intelligence Management (VDSIM) for armed forces and police, a six-month correspondence course can help get a job in the industry.