Private security firms are required to be compliant with the established rules and guidelines and Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn and Commissioner of Police (ag), Clifton Hicken has warned that unprofessionalism will not be tolerated.
Benn and Hicken on Tuesday made the statements during a three-hour long meeting with heads and representatives of private security firms.
The meeting was held at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Street, Georgetown to identify the issues and concerns and offer suggestions related to security.
In a press release, the GPF said that during his remarks, Hicken stressed the importance of professionalism within the security firms.
He pointed out instances where security personnel are seen dressed in their uniform and posing with “big guns” on social media.
According to the release, Hicken deemed this behaviour as “unacceptable and unprofessional” while noting that it needs to cease immediately.
He said that there are instances whereby security firms would have their officers exposing large weapons while on duty.
This, according to Hicken has the potential to create a “hostile” situation with the civil society and can also have negative implications for the country’s tourism sector, as well as the general safety of citizens.
As such, he advised that professionalism must be exhibited when handling firearms while encouraging proprietors of the private security firms to conduct frequent training within their organizations to enhance efficiency and customer service.
Further, the release said that Hicken also called on private security firms to have a standardized employment procedure. “Security firms must do complete background checks when hiring personnel as this will help to ensure you protect and maintain the image of your organization and by extension your clients and our country,” he said.
The acting Top Cop also commended the private security firms for their reduction of the “accidental discharge” of firearms and urged them to take great care and caution and to pay heed to the practical and theoretical aspects of security training, the release said.
Additionally, he underscored the importance of private security firms and the crucial role they play in partnering with the force in ensuring we have a safer society for all Guyanese.
Meanwhile, during his address to the gathering, the release said that Benn urged proprietors of the private security firms to ensure professionalism is maintained.
He said there should be continuous improvements in the quality of service offered to clients. “I want you all to impart that knowledge to the persons you have in your employ… The duty and responsibility reside with you to ensure that you run your services professionally and to make sure that the persons you employ do so in a professional manner so as to mitigate risks,” Benn said.
“We need a safe, secure and democratic Guyana,” he added.
Benn further related that security firms needs to be licensed to operate and ought to have a “clear” understanding of their roles and responsibilities, the release said.
He noted that he is prepared to revoke the licence of any private security firm that is found in breach of the law. “Your responsibility is to provide discreet service to your clients and to protect them, not to act outside of the law,” Benn said.
Traffic Chief Ramesh Ashram and Deputy Commissioner ‘Operations’ (ag), Ravindradat Budhram also spoke with representatives of the various security firms who were present at the meeting.
The release said that Ashram pointed out that security vehicles are not categorized as “emergency vehicles”.
As such, he said they need to comply with road rules and regulations and not have sirens or flashing lights on their vehicles as this could result in the revocation of the motor vehicle certificate of fitness.
Budhram on the other hand suggested that private security personnel should not only be trained to protect property or to guard a place while noting that it is imperative that they have some amount of general and local knowledge and they are trained in customer service.
“Your responsibility is to ensure the provision of quality service to your clients. Therefore it’s imperative to enhance training in your organization so as to improve the quality of service provided,” Budhram said.
“Another issue I want to touch on is that whenever persons are on duty or when they are being relieved of duty, the measures of securing firearms collected from persons who were on duty are oftentimes not in keeping with the procedures or the SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) that need to be followed and we need to ensure this is done,” he added.
