Bravo, and I am pretty impressed with the standards they have put together. It is a start at least and hopefully we will get some feedback, good or bad, from any industry folks from India about this.
It is also important to point out, that incidents like the Mumbai attacks require competent first responders to stop the attack. Police cannot be everywhere, nor can the military, but all of the hotels in Mumbai use private security (I assume). This new focus on standards for guards is a good thing, if they want to increase the chances of stopping future attacks.
Strangely enough, it almost looks like they are implementing a system that looks a lot like what I have been promoting here on FJ. Something that resembles the Red Card system with the Federal Fire Services here in the states. Even the mentor program reminds me of the task book system that I am familiar with. Oh, and they are teaching disaster management? That sounds like Incident Command stuff there. Hmmmm, interesting. –Matt
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Becoming a private guard becomes tougher
Anil Kumar M, TNN
2 September 2009
BANGALORE: You’ve probably wondered how some podgy men in uniform ended up as security guards. Simply because it was open house with few standards. But not anymore.
The government has framed fresh guidelines — Karnataka Private Security Rules — and brought all private security agencies in the state under its ambit.
The rules, constituted by the home secretariat, has prescribed a detailed syllabus required for training security guards. The training includes a minimum 100 hours of classroom instruction and 60 hours on the field, spread over at least 20 working days.
Private security agencies, who were supervised by the Centre under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005, will be controlled by a deputy inspector general of police (internal security division).
Some of the subjects in the syllabus include identification of improvised explosive devices, crisis response, disaster management, operating non-prohibited weapons and firearms, rudimentary knowledge of the Indian Penal Code and badges of rank in police and military forces.
Ex-servicemen and former police personnel will be tutors for aspiring security guards. They will teach techniques of guarding. Once the candidates complete the course, the training institute will give them certificates stating `Fit for security guard’.
With Karnataka now having exclusive rules, operating a private security agency in the state has been made stringent. “We have started gathering information on the number of private security agencies here. The department will soon put public advertisement to invite applications for recognition of these agencies,” said Amrit Paul, DIG (internal security).
Besides training, the government has come out with tough procedures for persons seeking a guard’s job. The police will establish identify of the individual and verify the person’s antecedents. Police officers will visit the area where the candidate stays and ask for feedback from nearby residents. This way, the applicant’s character can be gauged.
The cops will also consult the police station concerned for any record of the applicant and seek other records at the district police headquarter. Finally, the character and antecedents verification report will be prepared.
“Police will specifically comment if the guard under verification by the agency will pose a threat to national security,” Paul said.
The rules prescribe standards on physical fitness for security guards. The person (male) needs to be 160 cm in height, (150 cm for female), and the weight should be according to standard table of height and weight. The person needs to be free from colour blindness, and should be able to identify and distinguish colour displays in security equipment. He or she should understand basic text displayed in English alphabets and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3…). The person also needs to be free from `knock knee’ and flat foot and should be able to run 1 km in six minutes.
anil.kumar5@timesgroup.com
Story here.