Kathmandu, August 16

The government has tabled a Bill on Private Security Service Business at the Legislature-Parliament that allows the private sector to operate private security service and make such business responsible, decent, effective, as well as systematic.

The law will be called Private Security Service Business Act 2015.

Though the private sector had long been operating security services in Nepal, there was no law concerning the business.

A gazetted second class officer will be designated as Chief administrative officer of the Central Regulation Office to regulate and manage the private security service business. Its office will be located at the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to Section 18 of the proposed Bill, the uniform and insignia will be as fixed by the Central Regulation Office. “No private security service business company will be allowed to use the colour of uniform and insignia that resembles the colour of uniform or insignia used by Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force personnel,” reads the bill.

Lawmakers said the main objective of this Bill was to address concerns regarding the look-alike uniform colour and insignia used by private security service companies.

Security bodies, especially Nepal Police, had drawn attention of MoHA to this issue, saying that most private security service providers were using its summer uniform. In many cases, uniforms of private security guards resemble the insignia of DIG (crossed Khukuri and police baton within a wreathe of leaves).

The Bill states that no private security service provider will be allowed to mislead the public by undertaking or causing others to undertake actions/activities similar to that of NA, NP, and APF.

The Central Regulation Office may revoke the licence of such private companies if they submit fake documents during registration, engage in activities similar to that of national security agencies, and cause damage to lives and property of a person or group receiving its security service.

There will be a 10-member Private Security Service Directive Committee headed by MoHA Secretary to oversee proceedings related to the regulation of such business. The committee is also responsible for determining the type and number of weapons to be authorised to a private security company.

Such companies and their staff will not be allowed to stage any bandh, strike, and protest.