Rwanda National Police

Private Security Service Providers (PSSP) have been challenged to realign their training manual in a way that fits in the current security trends.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jean Nepo Mbonyumuvunyi, the Commissioner for PSSP in Rwanda National Police (RNP) made the call on Friday while presiding over the closure of a five-day training of 60 security personnel from Topsec Investment Limited.

RNP is the regulator for PSSP.

The training for chief controllers, supervisors and team leaders in Topsec focused mainly on counter-terrorism, searches, readiness, effective communication and observation, among others.

“Private security firms are the force multiplier; our country and the tourism sector in particular, is developing very fast, the hospitality sector like hotels receive many people… it is not just your presence for business but to guarantee that people are safe and their property are secure,” ACP Mbonyumuvunyi.

To guarantee this, he noted, training and discipline are inevitable for quality services.

He also hinted on issues of gender in their deployments, welfare of their personnel, hygiene and alertness especially in the forthcoming festivities.

The recent inspection report on the status of private security firms had indicated “violation of standard operating procedures.”

At the time, I was observed that some lack of proper training ground and security equipment, ineffective supervision and recklessness in searches. Other included deployment of only one staff to search both male and female, poor welfare of their staff and employing people without going the usual vetting process as a prerequisite.

ACP Mbonyumuvunyi, however, said that “there has been great improvement” since September with most private security firms “taking immediate action” to resolve the issues raised in their respective companies.

According to Andrew Nkurunziza, the chairman of the of Rwanda Private Security Industry Association (RPSIA), an umbrella for private security companies, they have drafted a training programme to ensure that their personnel go through both mind and physical training.

“We are in the final phase of acquiring a training facility where all people joining private security services will be trained. It is this same training centre where private security companies will be recruiting from and it will break the concept of poor training or recruiting undisciplined people,” Nkurunziza said.

There are 17 private security companies registered in Rwanda without a personnel population of over 19, 900.