1. Regulations of Private Security Companies Regional Perspective
Departamento de Seguridad Pública
Secretaría de Seguridad Multidimensional
Secretaría General de la OEA
Regulations of Private Security Companies Regional Perspective
Sheridon Hill

2. AGENDA Caribbean Landscape PSI Background and Operations Legislation
Regulation
Challenges to Regulation
Regional Response
Recommendations 2

3. Caribbean Landscape High crime rates (UNODC/World Bank Report 2007)
High murder rates
9 of 14 countries had increased murder rates
Rising gang violence (gang-related murders T&T, Jamaica, SKN)
Responses at State and Police Levels
Initiatives at Sub- Regional (CARICOM), Regional (OAS/DSP) and International Levels (UNODC) and academia (UWI)
UNODC Report 2009
JCA – 62; SKN -54; T&T 38; Belize
T&T; JCA; SKN
CARICOM IMPACS; MISPA/DPS/OAS; UNODC/CARICOM MOU 3

4. Caribbean Public Law Enforcement
Police
Dominica; Grenada; SLU; SVG
Police and Defence Force
A&B; Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; Guyana; Jamaica; SKN; T&T 4

5. P.S.I. Background & Operation
Private Security Industry
Growth industry in most jurisdictions
In non-OECS territories number of private security personnel larger than public security personnel
Assists public law enforcement
Contributes to feeling of security
Good working relationship with police
Areas of Operation
Public sector
Private sector
New ground: Prison transport and inclusion in national crime plan (T&T)
Recent trends/breaking new ground
Prisoner transport
Security at residence (T&T)
AG office and inclusion in national crime plan (T&T) 5

6. Challenges No training guidelines Disregard for recruiting guidelines
Unprofessional/poor training-provides false sense of security
No quality control/no value for money
Lack of research (including credible statistics) on Caribbean Private Security Industry

7. State vs Private Security
Country
No. Of Police Officers
No. Of Private Security Officers
No. Of Private Security Companies
Antigua and Barbuda
632
Not available
Bahamas
2,540
2,100 (est.)
180 (est.)
Barbados
1,005
1,455 33
Belize
1,196
1,180 67
Dominica
423
182 10
Grenada
957
817 20
Guyana
2,970
5,398 76
Jamaica
8,441
15,778(registered)
170(registered)
St. Kitts and Nevis
400
600
10(est.)
St Lucia
956
250(est.)
26(est.)
St Vincent and the Grenadines
831
381 9
Trinidad and Tobago
6,415
13,610(registered)
*Estimated 55,000
231(registered)
1. Pvt Security larger than police force in Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and T&T 7

8. Legislative Landscape
Country
Primary Legislation
Other Legislation
Antigua and Barbuda
Private Security Regulations Act 2006
Companies & Firearms Act
Bahamas
Private Security Act; Inquiry’s Agents Security Guard’s Act 1976
Barbados
Private Investigators and Security Guards Act 1985
Belize
Private Security and Investigation Services Act
Dominica
NIL
Grenada
Guyana
Private Security Services Bill No 38 of 2009
(Bill passed but not Assented)
Companies, Firearms Act, Immigration and Labour Act
Jamaica
Private Security Regulation Authority Act 1992
St. Kitts and Nevis
Private Investigators and Security Guards Act 2004
St. Lucia
Private Security Act 2006
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Supplemental Police Act Chapter 15:
TTPS Act Ch 15:01, Firearms & Companies Act 8

9. Legislation Country Licensing of Companies Regulatory Body
Composition of Body
Antigua and Barbuda
Sec 16 PSRA 2006
National Security Council
Not expressly stated in Act
Bahamas
PI & SG Licensing Board
Commissioner of Police
Barbados
Sec 4 (1) PI & SG Act 1996
Must apply to Minister
Not stated in Act
Belize
Sec4 (1) (a) PS & IS Act
Grenada/Dominica
Register of Companies
Registrar of Companies and Commissioner of Police**
Jamaica
Sec 10 PSRA Act 1992
Private Security Regulation Authority
Chairman appointed by Parliament and other state employees
St. Kitts and Nevis
Sec 310 PI AND SG ACT 2004
Private Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Authority Board Sec 1 2 3
PS MNS; PS Legal Affairs; COP and three appointed members by MNS
St. Lucia
Sec 30(1) PSA 2006
St Lucia Private Security Authority Sec 4 and 5
Security or defence; Law and LE; Finance/commerce; Consumer Affairs
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sec 13 (1),(2),(3) PI & SG Act 2003
Investigators and Security Guards Licensing Advisory Board Sec 3 (1)
PS; Senior legal counsel; COP; 4 reps trade union/women org; 2 reps PI & SG
Trinidad and Tobago
Registrar of Companies/MNS/COP **
COP
MNS/COP
PSRA – Private Security Regulation Act 2006
** - for registration purposes only
Guyana and Dominica excluded – no information available 9

10. Legislative Provisions
Country
Definitions
Uniforms
ID/Badges
Powers
Firearms
Training
License
A&B  
Barbados
Bahamas
Belize
Jamaica
SKN
SLU
SVG
T&T 10

11. Regulation Country Regulation model Composition Challenges Jamaica
Level 1
PSRA
Separate State Entity
Board appointed by state
Pubic servants employed by state
Too much emphasis on fees
Focus on larger companies
Lacks resources
SKN; SLU; SVG; Barbados
Level 2
Board
Licensing Committees
a) P.S. M.N.S. L.A
b) PSI rep
c) COP
Additional stakeholders appointed by the state
Too much bureaucracy
Board not established
Insufficient resources
Not committed to PSI alone 11

12. Regulation Country Regulation Model Composition Challenges
A&B; Bahamas; Belize; Guyana
T&T
Level 3
Single entity/official
Nat. Sec. Council;
Minister of National Security
COP
Same as Board/Licensing Committees
Dominica; Grenada
Level 4
NIL
Urgent need for regulation/
legislation and oversight body 12

13. Challenges to Regulation
Absence of legislation in Grenada and Dominica
Legislation weak (where present)
St Kitts and Nevis and St Lucia Boards have not been empanelled
Regulatory oversight vested in Minister of National Security, COP or Council
No dedicated resources
Other demanding priorities
Jurisdictions with oversight vested in Minister of National Security or Commissioner of Police are Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
Structure of authorities varies across the region
Internal: Nil. However there exists associations – JSIS (Jamaica); EPA, SMATT, SOMATT (T&T); GAPSO (Guyana) 13

14. Regional Response Department of Public Security in the OAS
OAS MISPA – 2008
MISPA I Mexico 2008
Resolution on Commitment to Public Security in Americas
Recognised the growing presence of PSS
Two studies on PSI in Caribbean and LA
Development of toolkit for private security policy regulation in the Hemisphere 14

15. Regional Response
United Nations Regional Centre for Peace Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNLiREC)
Training provided to PSI in Caribbean & LA
Control of arms regulations
Control of stockpiling and destruction
Research Agenda
Collaboration with DPS/OAS on stockpile management regulation, control and destruction of small arms & light weapons 15

16. Recommendations Need for research to fill gaps
Need for legislation where outstanding
Need for review of dated legislation
Implementation of legislative provisions
Establishment of effective oversight mechanisms
Possible standardization of policies across region?
Collaboration among stakeholders 16

17. Thank You Sheridon Hill Consultant Department of Public Security (DPS)
Secretariat of Multidimensional Security (SMS)
Organization of American States (OAS)