Guidelines outlined for use of arms by guards of private security agencies

PNS | Hyderabad

Taking serious cognisance of illicit weapons usage by the security guards of private security firms, which came to light when the taskforce busted a fake arms licence racket, City Commissioner of Police CV Anand chaired a hybrid meeting at the TSPICCC auditorium with 103 city-based security agencies to apprise them about the norms and precautions to be taken to mitigate this serious security  threat. The owners and managers of the firms turned up at the auditorium and all the SHOs /ACPs were connected to the meeting virtually through VC link.

CP Anand  appraised all the representatives of the security firms about the case, showed them the weapons and the fake licences and sensitised them on the dangerous implications  of deploying armed security guards and illicit weapons floating in society.
He urged them to persuade their clientele, especially banks and other financial institutions, to apply for arms licence duly mentioning the retainer licence requirement, through which the security guards, deployed by the security services, will be authorised to possess the arms.

“The security agencies cannot possess arms licences as per the law and should not adopt this illegal practice and create a job mafia,” he said . He instructed his officers to take responsibility as the government has given the authority to regulate arms licences and the duty falls squarely on the CP to keep these issues under watch and control.

“The Intelligence Security Wing is the registration authority and the local police should coordinate with them to get all details and verify on the field and not claim that it is not their concern,” he instructed his officers.

Individuals who have been issued arms licence for their own personal protection cannot be employed as security guards. Security agencies cannot hire a guard with a firearms licence and they should also submit an undertaking to this effect, he said,  while emphasising key points in the Arms Act, including licence types, powers vested with police as issuing authority and cautioned that non-compliance to arms rules will attract severe police action.

Through a power presentation, Joint CP (administration) Ramesh recalled the prevailing norms of Private Security Agency Regulation Act (PSARA) under which the operation of private security agencies is governed. He also pointed out that the agencies should strictly abide by the Act and Rules regarding quality, training, physical standards, qualification, antecedents verification  etc.