The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has begun a crackdown on unregistered private security guards and firms.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 30, the regulatory authority disclosed that it’s enforcement department was currently in a nationwide exercise to ensure the security firms and the guards met statutory requirements.
“Our compliance and enforcement department is currently undertaking robust countrywide; assignment to assignment, door to door, client to client enforcement visits and field compliance operations to ensure that all users and prospective users of private security services only engage security companies whose private security officers meet the statutory requirements of training, registration and are in possession of Guard Force Numbers,” read part of the statement.
According to PSRA, the Guard Force Number is the only proof that a security officer was duly trained and licensed by the regulatory authority.
“The Guard Force Number is the only proof that a Private Security Officer has been duly trained, registered and licensed by the Authority in accordance with the provisions of Sections 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016,” PSRA stated.
The authority directed all private security service providers to only employ or hire private security guards who possessed Guard Force Numbers.
According to PSRA, a legal notice requiring private security firms and guards to comply with the requirements was issued on November 2, 2023.
“The Legal Notice No. PSRA/005/2023 dated 2nd November 2023 is still valid and in force and strictly requires ALL private security service providers to ONLY employ, hire, or otherwise engage private security officers (security guards) who have undergone training, security vetting, are registered and in possession of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) issued by the Authority,” the authority stated.
