Private Security Officer Selection andTraining Guideline

Chuck Baley, CSO, Farmers Group, Inc.

ASIS Standards and Guidelines Commission Representative

PSO Technical Committee Chairman

ASIS is a Global Standards Development Organization

• Commission on Standards and Guidelines• Governing body of ASIS Standards and Guidelines work

• Globally Recognized in ISO• Official Liaison Status in Risk, Security and Resilience Committees

• Nationally Accredited in ANSI• ASIS Standards and Guidelines developed through a rigorous process

with auditable requirements of openness, due process, and transparency

New Guideline for Private Security

• Provides recommendations for establishing and managing a program for the selection and training of private security officers• Establishing the framework

• Program implementation

• Program improvement

• Applicable to both proprietary and contract security

• Revision and replacement of 2010 version

PSO Guideline Topics to Discuss

• Purpose

• Establishment of policies and procedures

• Assignment of roles and responsibilities

• Allocation of resources to the program

• Setting vetting and selection criteria

• Private security officer training and competencies

• Program evaluation and improvement

Purpose

• Provides a basis for an organization to develop or demonstrate that its private security officer selection and training policies, practices, procedures, and program are consistent with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations in the jurisdiction where the organization is domiciled and where the security services will be formed

Establishment of Policies and Procedures

• Demonstrate commitment to the design, implementation, and evaluation of the selection and training program by establishing policies and procedures which:• Provide a framework for setting selection and training criteria

• Are consistent with organizational objectives and the organization’s code of conduct

• Are communicated to all persons working for or on behalf of the organization

• Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations

Assignment of Roles and Responsibilities

• Ensure roles, responsibilities, and authorities relevant to the selection and training program are assigned and communicated within the organization

Allocation of Resource to the Program

• Provide sufficient resources to establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, and maintain the selection and training program

Setting Vetting and Selection Criteria

• Establish minimum criteria for screening and vetting of private security officers consistent with applicable legal, regulatory, and contractual obligations• Consideration of knowledge, skills, experience and competence

needed

Training and Competencies

• Identify training criteria for positions and consider:• Jurisdictional laws/statutes

• Organizational/client policies and procedures

• Contractual provisions

• Site-specific job responsibilities

• Security-related risks associated with duty assignment

Training and Competencies (continued)

• Consider a variety of training methods and formats:• Orientation programs

• Online training

• Instructor-provided classroom training

• Scenario-based approaches

• Conferences and/or professional development courses

Program Evaluation and Improvement

• Selection and training program evaluations should include:• Appropriateness of objectives, criteria, and scope

• Consistency with program policies and procedures

• Effectiveness and accuracy of selection and training methods

• Resource allocations (e.g., information, time, tools, personnel, financial support)

• Results should be utilized to identify opportunities for program improvements

Guideline Informative Annex

• Example Screening Criteria• Provides U.S. example for framework for private security officer

job description and criteria considerations

• Training Topics• Provides a list of potential training topics and is intended to assist

the organization in tailoring its training program to the duty assignment

In closing• Parameters for PSO selection and training vary

greatly by jurisdiction and company

• ASIS PSO Guideline provides generic guidance as a framework, applicable to all types of organizations (or parts thereof) regardless of jurisdiction, size and nature of operations

• Sets a benchmark and helps provide a basis for companies to demonstrate performance consistent with industry best practices

• URL to PSO Guidelinehttps://www.asisonline.org/publications--resources/standards--guidelines/

Thank you

STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

standards@asisonline.org