The Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM)) and The Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi for the propagation of Security sTar Agencies Rating (STAR) scheme which aims to standardize the Private Security Agencies based on internationally accepted ISO standards.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Kunwar Vikram Singh, Chairman CAPSI and Mr. Saurabh Sanyal, Deputy Secretary General ASSOCHAM in the presence of Mr Rajeev Sharma , MD G4S India, Mr. Anil Dhawan, Co- Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security and Disaster Management, Mr Anil Jauhri, CEO QCI, and a large number of industry leaders.
The scheme was formally launched on 8th February 2019 at Mumbai during the Special Standards Conclave organised by the Ministry of Commerce. The Scheme has been conceptualised by CAPSI with the active help and support of Quality Council of India (QCI), the country’s apex quality facilitation and national accreditation body and will be a game changer in the overall functioning of Private Security Agencies. The scheme envisages a Seven Star rating system purely based on competence and compliance factors.
In accordance with the Governing Structure of the scheme, the scheme has three bodies, viz. Steering, Technical, & Certification Committees, who after due deliberations have formulated various guidelines related to the scheme. The scheme was approved by the Steering Committee headed by Mr AN Roy, former DG, Mumbai Police.
While One Star Rating corresponds to PSARA compliance, Three Star Rating encompasses the basic PSARA criteria and certain essential management compliances to form Private Security Services Management System (PSSMS). Similarly, Five Star Rating corresponds to the criteria laid down in ISO 90001(+) and Seven Star Rating corresponds to the International ISO 18788. The intervening even number of Star Rating will be given to the PSA on maintaining sustained compliance for three years in their present rating.
STAR Rating method shall be an indicator of grading on the basis of the levels of compliance and practice followed by the security group. Based on sound technical requirements, certification and STAR Rating shall give both Private Security Agencies (PSA) and clients (the end users) the confidence and assurance of providing high standard security services. Certification shall open new horizons for the PSI and shall provide a sound foundation for the recognition of this sector.
Mr Rajeev Sharma said that there was a need to take standards to a global level and steps like these are crucial for that. “These are game changing times and we need to upscale, and this certification will help” he said.
Kunwar Vikram Sngh also elaborated on what all went into achieving the certification rating and insisted that standards are necessary. He also elaborated on the various steps that CAPSI had been taking in interacting with the government to ensure that security guards are upscaled and private security agencies are regulated.
Mr Anil Jauhri explained that the star rating meant that the client would decide on what kind of services they were looking for and go directly to the provider who had the relevant rating. He said that it also implied that the five star rated service meant that the client would be willing to pay accordingly.
While QCI and CAPSI shall be the joint Scheme Owners, the governing structure of the scheme shall be under a multi stakeholder Steering Committee and the scheme will be operated on a non profit but self sustaining basis. The MSC will be supported by a Technical Committee and a Certification Committee constituted by QCI and CAPSI. It would have a defined consensus based technical criteria laid down for the Private Security Agencies who would be evaluated by competent third party certification bodies, who in turn would be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB),which is part of the international system of equivalence of accreditations and certifications, as per appropriate international standards.
OSAC Mumbai & ASIS Mumbai Chapter hold joint meeting
A joint OSAC Mumbai Council & ASIS Mumbai Chapter meeting was recently held in Mumbai amidst a gathering of members and industry experts. The day long meeting included panel discussions and presentations by several members of OSAC and ASIS and gave an opportunity to members gathered to interact with each other and share their thoughts.
The Opening Address was given by Mr Edward Hwang, OSAC Mumbai Council, followed by the keynote address by Ms Jennifer Larson, Deputy Principal Officer. The first panel discussion of the day was on Security Outlook 2025 where Mr Sanjeev Sabharwal – CS, Mr Sanjeev Mishra – RIL, Mr Narayan Kurup – DB and Mr Puneet Garkhel – PwC shared their thoughts on the security outlook for the forthcoming time period. The panel discussion was interactive and audience had their say on the subject.
A presentation followed on CEO’s Expectations from Security by Mr Neil George, Nivea. An important presentation was also given by Mr SM Kumar on Srilanka Terror Attacks where he elaborated on the dangers that soft targets faced and the need for these potential targets to use technology to secure themselves.
This was followed by another presentation on US-Indo Pacific Strategy where Mr Christopher Grossman, US Consulate, Mumbai gave his views. The Mumbai US Consulate was also represented by Mr Carla Menéndez who spoke on the important subject of ‘U.S. Exports & Attracting Foreign Investments”.
The closing address of the joint meeting was given by Mr Sanjeev Tiwari, ASIS Mumbai Chapter. The meeting gave an opportunity for members and guests to interact with each other and was hailed a success by attendees.
