Regulations of Private Security CompaniesRegional Perspective

Sheridon Hill

Departamento de Seguridad Pública

Secretaría de Seguridad Multidimensional

Secretaría General de la OEA

Caribbean LandscapeCaribbean LandscapePSI Background and OperationsPSI Background and OperationsLegislation Legislation RegulationRegulationChallenges to RegulationChallenges to RegulationRegional ResponseRegional ResponseRecommendationsRecommendations

High crime rates (UNODC/World Bank Report 2007)High crime rates (UNODC/World Bank Report 2007)

High murder ratesHigh murder rates

9 of 14 countries had increased murder rates 2000 - 99 of 14 countries had increased murder rates 2000 - 9

Rising gang violence (gang-related murders T&T, Jamaica, SKN)Rising gang violence (gang-related murders T&T, Jamaica, SKN)

Responses at State and Police LevelsResponses at State and Police Levels

Initiatives at Sub- Regional (CARICOM), Regional (OAS/DSP) and Initiatives at Sub- Regional (CARICOM), Regional (OAS/DSP) and

International Levels (UNODC) and academia (UWI)International Levels (UNODC) and academia (UWI)

Private Security IndustryPrivate Security Industry Growth industry in most jurisdictionsGrowth industry in most jurisdictions In non-OECS territories number of private security personnel larger than In non-OECS territories number of private security personnel larger than

public security personnelpublic security personnel Assists public law enforcementAssists public law enforcement

Contributes to feeling of securityContributes to feeling of security Good working relationship with policeGood working relationship with police

Areas of OperationAreas of Operation Public sectorPublic sector Private sectorPrivate sector New ground: Prison transport and inclusion in national crime plan (T&T)New ground: Prison transport and inclusion in national crime plan (T&T)

• No training guidelines No training guidelines • Disregard for recruiting guidelinesDisregard for recruiting guidelines• Unprofessional/poor training-provides false sense Unprofessional/poor training-provides false sense

of security of security • No quality control/no value for moneyNo quality control/no value for money• Lack of research (including credible statistics) on Lack of research (including credible statistics) on

Caribbean Private Security IndustryCaribbean Private Security Industry

CountryCountry No. Of Police No. Of Police OfficersOfficers

No. Of Private No. Of Private Security OfficersSecurity Officers

No. Of Private No. Of Private Security CompaniesSecurity Companies

Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda 632632 Not availableNot available Not availableNot available

BahamasBahamas 2,5402,540 2,100 (est.)2,100 (est.) 180 (est.)180 (est.)

BarbadosBarbados 1,0051,005 1,4551,455 3333

BelizeBelize 1,1961,196 1,1801,180 6767

DominicaDominica 423423 182182 1010

GrenadaGrenada 957957 817817 2020

GuyanaGuyana 2,9702,970 5,3985,398 7676

JamaicaJamaica 8,4418,441 15,778(registered)15,778(registered) 170(registered)170(registered)

St. Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis 400400 600600 10(est.)10(est.)

St LuciaSt Lucia 956956 250(est.)250(est.) 26(est.)26(est.)

St Vincent and the St Vincent and the GrenadinesGrenadines

831831 381381 99

Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago 6,4156,415 13,610(registered)13,610(registered)*Estimated 55,000*Estimated 55,000

231(registered)231(registered)

CountryCountry Primary LegislationPrimary Legislation Other LegislationOther Legislation

Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda Private Security Regulations Act 2006Private Security Regulations Act 2006 Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

Bahamas Bahamas Private Security Act; Inquiry’s Agents Security Private Security Act; Inquiry’s Agents Security Guard’s Act 1976Guard’s Act 1976

Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

BarbadosBarbados Private Investigators and Security Guards Act Private Investigators and Security Guards Act 19851985

Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

BelizeBelize Private Security and Investigation Services Act Private Security and Investigation Services Act 138-01 2003138-01 2003

Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

Dominica Dominica NILNIL Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

GrenadaGrenada NILNIL Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

GuyanaGuyana Private Security Services Bill No 38 of 2009Private Security Services Bill No 38 of 2009(Bill passed but not Assented)(Bill passed but not Assented)

Companies, Firearms Act, Companies, Firearms Act, Immigration and Labour ActImmigration and Labour Act

JamaicaJamaica Private Security Regulation Authority Act 1992Private Security Regulation Authority Act 1992 Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

St. Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis Private Investigators and Security Guards Act Private Investigators and Security Guards Act 20042004

Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

St. LuciaSt. Lucia Private Security Act 2006Private Security Act 2006 Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

St. Vincent and the St. Vincent and the GrenadinesGrenadines

Private Security Act 2006Private Security Act 2006 Companies & Firearms ActCompanies & Firearms Act

Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago Supplemental Police Act Chapter 15:02 1906Supplemental Police Act Chapter 15:02 1906 TTPS Act Ch 15:01, Firearms & TTPS Act Ch 15:01, Firearms & Companies ActCompanies Act

CountryCountry Licensing of CompaniesLicensing of Companies Regulatory BodyRegulatory Body Composition of BodyComposition of Body

Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda Sec 16 PSRA 2006Sec 16 PSRA 2006 National Security CouncilNational Security Council Not expressly stated in ActNot expressly stated in Act

Bahamas Bahamas PI & SG Licensing BoardPI & SG Licensing Board Commissioner of PoliceCommissioner of Police

BarbadosBarbados Sec 4 (1) PI & SG Act 1996Sec 4 (1) PI & SG Act 1996 Must apply to MinisterMust apply to Minister Not stated in ActNot stated in Act

BelizeBelize Sec4 (1) (a) PS & IS Act Sec4 (1) (a) PS & IS Act 138-01 2003138-01 2003

Commissioner of PoliceCommissioner of Police Commissioner of PoliceCommissioner of Police

Grenada/DominicaGrenada/Dominica Register of CompaniesRegister of Companies Registrar of Companies and Registrar of Companies and Commissioner of Police**Commissioner of Police**

JamaicaJamaica Sec 10 PSRA Act 1992Sec 10 PSRA Act 1992 Private Security Regulation Private Security Regulation AuthorityAuthority

Chairman appointed by Chairman appointed by Parliament and other state Parliament and other state employeesemployees

St. Kitts and NevisSt. Kitts and Nevis Sec 310 PI AND SG ACT Sec 310 PI AND SG ACT 20042004

Private Investigators and Private Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Security Guards Licensing Authority Board Sec 1 2 3 Authority Board Sec 1 2 3

PS MNS; PS Legal Affairs; PS MNS; PS Legal Affairs; COP and three appointed COP and three appointed members by MNSmembers by MNS

St. LuciaSt. Lucia Sec 30(1) PSA 2006Sec 30(1) PSA 2006 St Lucia Private Security St Lucia Private Security Authority Sec 4 and 5Authority Sec 4 and 5

Security or defence; Law Security or defence; Law and LE; Finance/commerce; and LE; Finance/commerce; Consumer AffairsConsumer Affairs

St. Vincent and the St. Vincent and the GrenadinesGrenadines

Sec 13 (1),(2),(3) PI & SG Sec 13 (1),(2),(3) PI & SG Act 2003Act 2003

Investigators and Security Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Advisory Guards Licensing Advisory Board Sec 3 (1)Board Sec 3 (1)

PS; Senior legal counsel; PS; Senior legal counsel; COP; 4 reps trade COP; 4 reps trade union/women org; 2 reps PI union/women org; 2 reps PI & SG& SG

Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago Registrar of Registrar of Companies/MNS/COP **Companies/MNS/COP **

COPCOP MNS/COPMNS/COP

CountryCountry DefinitionsDefinitions UniformsUniforms ID/ID/BadgesBadges

PowersPowers FirearmsFirearms TrainingTraining LicenseLicense

A&BA&B BarbadosBarbados BahamasBahamas BelizeBelize JamaicaJamaica SKNSKN SLUSLU SVGSVG T&TT&T

CountryCountry Regulation Regulation modelmodel

CompositionComposition ChallengesChallenges

JamaicaJamaica

Level 1Level 1

PSRAPSRASeparate State Separate State EntityEntity

Board appointed Board appointed by stateby statePubic servants Pubic servants employed by employed by statestate

i)i) Too much Too much emphasis on feesemphasis on fees

ii)ii) Focus on larger Focus on larger companiescompanies

iii)iii) Lacks resourcesLacks resources

SKN; SLU; SKN; SLU; SVG; SVG; BarbadosBarbados

Level 2Level 2

BoardBoardLicensing Licensing CommitteesCommittees

a) P.S. M.N.S. a) P.S. M.N.S. L.AL.Ab) PSI repb) PSI repc) COPc) COPAdditional Additional stakeholders stakeholders appointed by the appointed by the statestate

i)i) Too much Too much bureaucracybureaucracy

ii)ii) Board not Board not establishedestablished

iii)iii) Insufficient Insufficient resourcesresources

iv)iv) Not committed to Not committed to PSI alonePSI alone

CountryCountry Regulation Regulation ModelModel

CompositionComposition ChallengesChallenges

A&B; A&B; Bahamas; Bahamas; Belize; GuyanaBelize; GuyanaT&TT&T

Level 3Level 3

Single Single entity/officialentity/official

a)a) Nat. Sec. Nat. Sec. Council;Council;

b)b) Minister of Minister of National National SecuritySecurity

c)c) COPCOP

Same as Same as Board/Licensing Board/Licensing CommitteesCommittees

Dominica; Dominica; GrenadaGrenada

Level 4Level 4

NILNIL NILNIL Urgent need for Urgent need for regulation/regulation/legislation and legislation and oversight bodyoversight body

Absence of legislation in Grenada and DominicaAbsence of legislation in Grenada and Dominica

Legislation weak (where present)Legislation weak (where present)

St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia Boards have not been St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia Boards have not been empanelledempanelled

Regulatory oversight vested in Minister of National Security, Regulatory oversight vested in Minister of National Security, COP or CouncilCOP or Council

No dedicated resourcesNo dedicated resources

Other demanding prioritiesOther demanding priorities

Department of Public Security in the OAS Department of Public Security in the OAS

OAS MISPA – 2008OAS MISPA – 2008

MISPA I Mexico 2008MISPA I Mexico 2008

Resolution on Commitment to Public Security in Americas Resolution on Commitment to Public Security in Americas

Recognised the growing presence of PSSRecognised the growing presence of PSS

Two studies on PSI in Caribbean and LATwo studies on PSI in Caribbean and LA

Development of toolkit for private security policy regulation Development of toolkit for private security policy regulation in the Hemispherein the Hemisphere

United Nations Regional Centre for Peace United Nations Regional Centre for Peace Disarmament and Development in Latin America Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLiREC)and the Caribbean (UNLiREC) Training provided to PSI in Caribbean & LATraining provided to PSI in Caribbean & LA Control of arms regulationsControl of arms regulations Control of stockpiling and destructionControl of stockpiling and destruction Research AgendaResearch Agenda Collaboration with DPS/OAS on stockpile management Collaboration with DPS/OAS on stockpile management

regulation, control and destruction of small arms & light regulation, control and destruction of small arms & light weaponsweapons

Need for research to fill gapsNeed for research to fill gaps

Need for legislation where outstandingNeed for legislation where outstanding

Need for review of dated legislationNeed for review of dated legislation

Implementation of legislative provisionsImplementation of legislative provisions

Establishment of effective oversight mechanismsEstablishment of effective oversight mechanisms

Possible standardization of policies across region?Possible standardization of policies across region?

Collaboration among stakeholdersCollaboration among stakeholders

Thank YouThank You

Sheridon HillSheridon HillConsultantConsultant

Department of Public Security (DPS)Department of Public Security (DPS)Secretariat of Multidimensional Security (SMS)Secretariat of Multidimensional Security (SMS)

Organization of American States (OAS)Organization of American States (OAS)shill@oas.orgshill@oas.org

www.oas.org/dspwww.oas.org/dsp