To ensure security of cash vans and ATMs, the Gurugram police have issued a list of special SOPs to security agencies and banks. Astha Modi, DCP, Headquarters, in her latest orders highlighted the instructions being issued in wake of incidents involving robberies from cash vans in transit, ATM thefts etc.
As per the orders, no private security agency shall be enlisted by any banking institution for cash transportation activities unless they hold a license under the Haryana Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005.Cash transportation activities may be carried out only by virtue of a contract between a licensed private security agency or cash handling agency and the bank concerned. The agencies are required to themselves provide private security to cash transportation activities.
The order specified that cash transportation activities were to be carried in a secured GPS-fitted cash van owned by a bank or agency and not any taxi or hired vehicle with requisite staff, including at least two trained armed security guards on board. The order mandated thorough antecedent check, KYC verification and police verification of these personnel.
The vans will not be allowed to carry more than Rs 5 crore at one time. Each bank/ cash handling agency/ private security agency shall be responsible for informing the police in case of any movement of cash above Rs 25 lakh per trip and may also seek police security for the same, as per requirement.
“The recent incidents have highlighted that in case of robbery of cash vans the agencies or authorities concerned did not follow security norms leaving vehicle and cash vulnerable. The police are there to ensure safety but they need to have their Guard on,” said Modi.
It may be noted that a group of robbers had snatched an amount of Rs 96,93,931 from the employees of a security firm on Sohna Road, Gurugram, on April 18. The robbery had brought to light glaring security lapses in transportation. Similarly, with repeated ATM thefts the police have mandated that each ATM will be fitted with one-time electronic combination locks and no cash loading of the ATMS or cash transportation activities will be done After 9 pm in urban areas and after 6 pm in rural areas.
