Questions to ask in a private security industry assessment to ensure accountability and oversight
- What laws and regulations are in place to govern the private security industry and the use of firearms by civilian corporate entities?
- How effective is their enforcement and which agencies are responsible for that enforcement?
- Which government agencies or ministries are involved in the control and regulation of private security companies (e.g. ministries of trade, economy, industry, the interior)?
- What procedures and criteria exist for licensing and registering companies?
- What systems and standards exist for vetting and licensing private security personnel?
- Have private security companies or their personnel been implicated in crime, including gender- based violence or trafficking, and have incidents led to trials or prosecutions?
- What voluntary codes of conduct, industry bodies and standards exist?
- Do procurers of private security services have procurement criteria or report information on the companies or individuals that they employ?
- Are there regulatory restrictions on the use of force and firearms by private security providers?
Source: Development Assistance Committee Handbook on Security System Reform: Supporting Security and Justice, p. 213 (OECD 2007)