Security Company Assessment

The Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) was established in terms of Section 2 of the Private Security Industry Regulation Act (56 of 2001) in 2002 and this body regulates the security industry. Basic to the regulation of the private security industry is the requirement that all those who fall within the definition of “security service provider” and who propose to render a “security service”, must comply with registration procedures and be registered before becoming active in the industry. This implies that the Act may set reasonable and appropriate registration requirements that must be satisfied by applicant security service providers. The basic object is to achieve a trustworthy, legitimate and competent private security industry which has the effect that not all applicants will be able to secure legitimate entry to the industry and that the admission to or exclusion from the industry is based on proper grounds. Section 20 of the Act requires all persons (business and security officers) rendering a security service to register with PSiRA. The obligation to register includes the following categories or classes of security service providers as defined under the definition of “security service”:

• Guarding sector
• Close protection officers.
• Persons giving advice on security services, including the use of security equipment;
• Response security;
• Assets in transit;
• Events / venue security;
• Manufacturers, importers and distributors of monitoring devises;
• Private investigators;
• Security trainers;
• Installers of security equipment
• Persons repairing / servicing security equipment;
• Monitoring signals of electronic security equipment;
• Control room operators;
• Locksmiths;
• Persons managing, controlling or supervising security services.

The security equipment referred to above includes, inter alia, the following: Alarm systems, Safes and/or vaults, Satellite tracking devices, CCTV and other monitoring devices, Devices used for intrusion detection, access control, bomb detection, fire detection, metal detection and x-ray inspection and Locksmith equipment. The registration requirement therefore applies with regard to those falling within the following categories: All natural persons personally rendering a security service (whether as employee or otherwise) and includes in-house security, all form of businesses which render a security service; and natural persons involved in the executive management or governance of the said business. Since the Act requires all persons rendering a security service to register with the Authority, the Act further provides for offences and penalties for non-compliance or contraventions. In terms of section 38 (3)(a), any person who contravenes or fails to comply with section 20(1) of the Act, is guilty of an offence. Section 38(3)(a) provides for the following sanctions on conviction – (i) on a first conviction of a contravention, is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years, or to both a fine and such imprisonment. On a second or subsequent conviction of a contravention, is liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years, or to both a fine and such imprisonment.

Consumer obligations – In terms of section 38(3)(g) of the Act, persons (clients or consumers of security services) who knowingly or without the exercise of reasonable care contracts for the rendering of services contrary to the Act, are also guilty of a criminal offence. The Act therefore places an explicit legal onus on consumers of private security services to only use and/or contract with legitimate and registered security service providers. A client of a security business must therefore make a reasonable enquiry as to the legitimacy of the security business, its officials and persons deployed by it to provide a security service, before making use of its services or to continue to use its services. Verifraud can assist your company with a assesment on the compliance status of your security provider at a all inclusive fee off R1200. If you need this service just send me an email with your company detail, the spesific site detail and the details of the security company you are contracted to provide you with any of the services mentioned above.