Deputy National Police chief Y Sokhy has urged private security guards who have undergone skills training from the Department for Private Security Management under the National Police to use their skills more effectively to maintain security, safety and public order. They should report crimes to the authorities when one occurs. Sokhy, who is also the director of Counter-Terrorism and Trans-Border Crimes Department, was speaking at the closing ceremony of the 39th private security agency training course.
The National Police said, in a social media post, that Sokhy had instructed all private security agents to strengthen their cooperation with police and local authorities in areas where they were stationed and reiterated how important the private security agents are as a backup force for police officers.
The post said if they see – or even suspect –any illegal activity, no matter where they are stationed, private security agents should immediately report it, so that the police can respond and enforce the law.
Sokhy added that security guards not only work for companies or institutions, but also play an important role in protecting the property and lives of the public. They were a crucial part of the implementation of the government’s policies, especially the safe village-commune policy.
He also instructed them to act in an appropriate, professional manner and remember their training. They must have discipline, and maintain a strong sense of ethics. This included dressing neatly and respecting their uniforms.
Sokhy advised the directors of private security companies to support further training for their guards by regularly offering them professional development courses, such as the one run by the department. All graduates should apply what they had learned from the course and continue to expand their skills, as they took on more responsibility in their roles.
Lim Sokha Rasmey, director of the National Police’s private security department, said that 39 courses of this type had so far been conducted. 6,935 guards had graduated, 161 of them women.
He added that the training aimed to increase their capacities so they would be able to meet the needs of a demanding job, and contribute to the safe village-commune policy.
Sokha Rasmey noted that the guards who had undergone the training course now had clear skills, strong ethics, positive attitudes and some legal knowledge, and would certainly have a positive effect on the private security sector.
He did warn that there were some security guards who operated outside the law, did not maintain order, and were even involved in crimes. Some had even overstepped their own authority and detained suspects without reporting it to the police. He requested that all private security guards communicate regularly with their local police, so they can all work together towards a safer Cambodia
