Private Security Services

Deteriorating security environment in the country and consequential requirement of security personnel, witnessed mushroom growth of PSC. Most of these companies are being run in unprofessional manner violating the rules and regulations laid down by the Government of the Punjab. Security guards being provided are mostly unverified, ill-trained, ill-equipped and poorly paid. No central database of PSCs and their guards was held. DOM was tasked to maintain the record of all PSCs. To this end, DOM developed a web portal, on which all PSCs holding licence to operate in Punjab get registered and upload their data, including; company profile, detail of guards including verification by Special Branch or police, detail of weapons held, training imparted, present status of the company i.e. operational, revoked, licence expired, etc. DOM also carryout ground verification of private security companies and also establishes the veracity of complaints against these companies. In 2017-18, the number of registered PSCs in Punjab was 405, out of which 89 were revoked and licences of 79 were renewed. Strength of registered guards was 29212 and 4831 were security wise cleared by Special Branch, however, data of not even a single guard was uploaded by them.