Rising instances of terror attacks, growing industrial unrest and gruesome incidents like the killing of a CEO by his own employees in Noida, have put the security service firms in a fix. While there has been an increase in the demand for not only security but security management, security audit and more importantly, accountability on the part of service providers, security firms are facing a number of hardships due to lack of policy-level initiatives to equip them to face the new challenges.
The Private Securities Agencies Regulation Act, 2005 has not yet been adopted by most of the states, thus jeopardising the scope of empowering the service providers to deal with the changing dynamics of safety and security business.
?The security environment has become volatile over the last few months. Terrorist attacks across cities have resulted in businesses becoming more conscious about the safety and security of their assets, employees and customers. The threat perception in retail establishments, hotels, hospitals and areas of public use has increased manifold,? said Rituraj Sinha, CEO of Delhi-based security firm Security and Intelligence Services, SIS.
?The recent developments at Singur and the murder of a top executive in Noida have aggravated the already tense situation,? he added. Sinha said the private security industry is capable and willing to play a more active role in intelligence gathering, watch and ward functions as well as disaster management.
However, the issue plaguing the sector is the slow implementation of Private Securities Agencies Regulation Act, 2005. ?Three years down the line, not even three states have fully implemented the Act with an active state-level regulatory body. Several states are yet to adopt the Central legislation. Unless the Act is implemented, one cannot regulate the industry and the quality of training to its personnel to handle new risks. Moreover, the much-needed police ? private security networking platform can only be established once a forum for the security industry is created through a regulatory organisation. Agrees Rupal Sinha, CEO, G4 Securities, ?The sector requires a little more empowerment on the policy level to deal with the current scenario of heightened security concerns. Also, the government can take us in confidence and we can assist them in providing soft security, so that they can focus on national security in a better manner.?
The International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM) now plans to take up the issue with the government. ?We are recommending more empowerment to the private security service providers. There should be relaxation in procuring arms licence and they should be authorised to search and interrogate. We have already given the government the training standards in May 2007. These standards should be implemented. As of now, only the top few players have adequate training and infrastructure,? said D C Nath, president, IISSM.
The sector, which is slowly coming out of the mould of manned guarding, now needs adequate policy cover as the players are gearing up to take up challenges on the operational front.