Victor, a Ugandan contractor with Triple Canopy Security Services, stands overwatch duty in Iraq on April 6, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Specialist Michael D. Heckman)

ASIS Seeks Committee Members for Private Security Contractor Standard

ASIS International is developing a standard that will be a cross between the ISO 9001, ISO 31000 and ANSI/ASIS.SPC.1 (quality, risk and resilience management, respectively) for private security sector organizations, according to Marc H. Siegel, chair of the PSC.1 technical committee and commissioner, ASIS Global Standards Initiative.

A standards development organization, ASIS announced the contract award from the U.S. Department of Defense in mid-March, seeking applications from the security industry and client and rights groups worldwide. The deadline to submit an application to standards@asisonline.org is March 30. Details of the contract award were not disclosed.

Governments often employ private security contractors when conflict or disaster undermines the rule of law. Earlier this year, President Barack Obama signed the Defense reauthorization for fiscal 2011 (pdf), which included a requirement for standards and third-party certification for private security service providers. The law calls for guidance to establish criteria for:

  • defining standard practices for the performance of private security functions, which shall reflect input from industry representatives as well as the Inspector General of the Department of Defense; and
  • weapons training programs for contractors performing private security functions, including minimum requirements for weapons training programs of instruction and minimum qualifications for instructors for such programs.

Siegel said that ASIS is preparing a “starting point” example document that the technical committee will use to begin discussions. It will be based on principles found in the Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for States related to Operations of Private Military and Security Companies during Armed Conflict (pdf) and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (pdf).

"This global initiative will codify benchmarks for best practices consistent with the goals of assuring quality of services and respect for human and civil rights," Siegel said. He offered several examples of best practices that private security companies should be implementing, including:

  • identifying legal, regulatory and other requirements related to its facilities, activities, functions, products, services, supply chain, subcontractors, the environment and stakeholders, as well as relevant international humanitarian and human rights agreements and customary international law, and determining how all of these requirements apply to its operations;
  • retaining sufficient personnel and staff with the appropriate competence to fulfill its contractual obligations;
  • establishing, documenting and implementing procedures for background screening and vetting of all personnel and staff; and
  • establishing a procedure to document grievances received from clients and other parties.

He said he expects to have a draft report back to Congress within 250 days; ANSI processing will take longer. Once the standards have been developed, they will have worldwide relevance, Siegel explained, adding that private security companies will have to have quality-assurance management systems implemented and certified by third parties in order to be considered for DOD contracts.

ASIS International, with more than 37,000 members, is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests.

About the Author

Lisa K. Williams is senior content developer for Security Products.

Featured

  • 12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    12 Commercial Crime Sites to Do Your Research

    Understanding crime statistics in your industry and area is crucial for making important decisions about your security budget. With so much information out there, how can you know which statistics to trust? Read Now

  • Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    Boosting Safety and Efficiency

    In alignment with the state of Mississippi’s mission of “Empowering Mississippi citizens to stay connected and engaged with their government,” Salient's CompleteView VMS is being installed throughout more than 150 state boards, commissions and agencies in order to ensure safety for thousands of constituents who access state services daily. Read Now

  • Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    Live From GSX: Post-Show Review

    This year’s Live From GSX program was a rousing success! Again, we’d like to thank our partners, and IPVideo, for working with us and letting us broadcast their solutions to the industry. You can follow our Live From GSX 2023 page to keep up with post-show developments and announcements. And if you’re interested in working with us in 2024, please don’t hesitate to ask about our Live From programs for ISC West in March or next year’s GSX. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • People Say the Funniest Things

    People Say the Funniest Things

    By all accounts, GSX version 2023 was completely successful. Apparently, there were plenty of mix-ups with the airlines and getting aircraft from the East Coast into Big D. I am all ears when I am in a gathering of people. You never know when a nugget of information might flip out. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction. 3

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame. 3

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.” 3