Attack fallout: private security meet called off

The Fire and Safety Association of India8217;s press meeting that was supposed to take place on Thursday was cancelled in the wake of the terror attack at the Oberoi, the venue for the meeting. Ironically, the organisation was supposed to brief the media on the new developments in private security and surveillance market.

FSAI President Pramod Rao said, 8220;I was at home when I got to know about the terror attack at the Oberoi where I was supposed to address the media on private security and surveillance market. When I switched on the television, I realised the full potential of the incident.8221; When asked what impact will the terror strike have on the private security market, Rao said, 8220; I have to admit that every time such incidents happen, there is a flurry of activity in the initial stages regarding tightening of security. However, this enthusiasm dies after a some time and everyone becomes complacent. Hopefully, this time, the scope of security and surveillance will be taken much more seriously.8221;Rao blames the legislation for not giving private security industry enough importance . 8220;Around a year ago, FSAI had approached the state government with certain recommendations including a suggestion to slash custom duties on private security devices. All state-of-the-art private security equipments like explosive detectors and CCTV cameras have to be imported from outside the country and there are exorbitant custom duties levied on them. We had also requested the government to make it compulsory for all kinds of commercial establishments to have security and also give industry status to the private security market. All these demands were supposed to be considered but nothing has happened so far,8221; said Rao.

Rao feels that the lack of an academy to train people in private security needs to be addressed. 8220;Over here, private security guards are not properly trained to handle combat situations or to handle automatic weapons. What we need is a proper institute which would deal in training security personnel for such situations,8221; he added.