BY: Fatou O. Barrow
The private security guard company unit of the ministry of interior has on Monday 11th October, 2021 begun reviewing the Private Security Company Act and training manual.
The event was held at the Gambia Police Force Cooperative Credit Union (GPFCCU) premises.
The week-long forum is aimed at bringing together relevant stakeholders to review and develop the Private Security Company Act and training manual to enhance administrative and oversight monitoring of operations of the Private Security Companies (PSCs) to international standards for effective practices.
The review of the act will enable the interior ministry to adequately oversee, monitor, and regulate activities of the private security companies in The Gambia. It will also enable them to develop mainstream security manuals for the conduct of capacity training of security guards on international best practices.
Speaking on behalf of the interior minister, Mrs. Fanta Bojang Samateh Manneh, deputy permanent secretary, said security has become the focal point of policy making in many countries.
In that she said people live in a constant state of emergency where exceptional mechanisms are required to be developed to control new emerging threats and dangers that the public face.
Manneh further said the field of security policy administration has the general tendency to create that split between approaches focusing on responding to threats and frameworks that aim to administer and address public concerns.
“Private security companies all over the world are involved in provision of [a] range of services, from risk analysis to close protection of individuals and strategically vital installations and locations within the regions,” she added.
To ensure the requirement for institutional reforms in policies, legal and developmental frameworks to help the private companies regulate and determine its heights in delivering best services, she said the ministry of interior continues to reaffirm its position to review and develop the Private Security Guards Act 2011 and training manual respectively for functional administration in the country.
Fatou K. Jawara, speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Defence and Security of the National Assembly, said they are aware of the significant contributions of the private security companies in protecting lives and properties of individuals in the country.
To her, security is dynamic and therefore needs relevant and updated equipment, up-to-date training methods and frequently updated legal frameworks to respond to emerging threats.
“The review of this legal framework shall massively support private security business in the country,” she said.
She highlighted that the issues raised and the outcomes of the discussions shall inform the aforesaid committee on elements of the act and the training manual, thus empowering it to make informed decisions once it is tabled before the national assembly for amendments.
