Private security services in Karnataka must comply with the provisions of the Private Security Agency (Regulation) Act
Deputy commissioner of police (law and order) Harsha Priyamvada told TOI that recently they reviewed those individuals keeping private security and over a dozen security guards were removed from duty due to lack of records and non-compliance with required procedures.
Mysuru: Mysuru city police, who recently reviewed private security arrangements by a few individuals, said keeping a private security guard without valid certification and records is unlawful and could attract legal action. Agencies and employers must maintain written documentation showing eligibility, training, police verification, duty rosters, wage records, and contractual authorisation for deployment, police said. Police said no individual possessing or having valid gun licences can extend security services by themselves on the grounds of being friends or family members.
During they found that a majority of guards had violated the provisions. Private security services in Karnataka must comply with the provisions of the Private Security Agency (Regulation) Act as well as Karnataka rules and procedures applicable to private security agencies and guards. Guards are required to have proper identity verification, documented recruitment records, prescribed training completion, and deployment records. Employing or deploying armed guards without lawful authorisations and records can attract action by the police and licensing authorities, cops explained. Karnataka requires proper procedure for private security guards, including documentation, training compliance, and verifiable records, and authorities may suspend deployment and initiate proceedings when these requirements are not met, the IPS officer explained. City police will again review the private security arrangements by a few individuals at station level to verify any unauthorised hiring of private security services, the DCP informed. An officer explained if any individual wants to hire private security for safety, he or she has to follow prescribed rules and regulations. They can hire guards only from registered agencies, which keep records and share complete information with the local police. Besides, the applications will be verified by the local police, who will check compliance and seek approval of senior officers. Even a valid gun licence holder can’t hand over licensed weapons to any person and keep them as their guards, which is also a violation. A gun licence holder explained that a gun licence is given by the local jurisdiction police based on threat perception and regular cash transactions and that, when hiring private security, one has to comply with all provisions governing private security arrangements.