Private Security Companies are indeed essential partners in challenging environments

Thankfully, wars and violent conflicts are decreasing. But the environments in which businesses, nation-builders and humanitarians must operate grow ever more insecure. The tragic consequences of the bomb outside the UN offices in Baghdad are with us still. Those of the bombing of the UN offices in Algeria are now unfolding. Seen from the outside the obvious temptation is to give up.

From the inside that is simply not an option. It would condemn untold millions to hardship and suffering. And history has taught us that there are no long term advantages in policies of appeasement. Risk mitigation is the only option, and Private Security Companies are the partners who can help. The image may be of Rambo riding into town with his shotgun. The reality is of painstaking analysis and patient preparation – with the objective of permitting the client, whether a Government, an NGO, a media outlet or a corporation to achieve its objectives in harmony with the local community. The PSC industry is here to stay – and rightly so. But it is equally right that it should observe the highest possible standards, and that it should indeed be observed to do so.

That is why the British Association of Private Security Companies was created. It was the leading members of the industry coming together and saying “yes, we do want transparency; yes, we do want dialogue; and most importantly, yes, we do want standards – and we are ready to be held accountable.”

The British industry has a global outreach and is globally acclaimed for the quality of the services it offers. It is committed to operate responsibly, to obey all laws, and to work vigorously to eliminate abuses of any description. No industry can ever be exempt from problem incidents.

That is simply the consequence of human nature and human failings. What matters is that the industry recognises this, and is ready to work with anyone and everyone in their quest to meet the highest possible standards.

Andy Bearpark, Director General, BAPSC: Forward to BAPSC Yearbook