Fear factor pushes up demand for private guards

In the wake of terror attacks in the country, the demand for private security guards has been registering a steady increase and it has suddenly shot up after the Mumbai terror strike.

Security agencies in the thick of action, cash-wise

In the wake of terror attacks in the country, the demand for private security guards has been registering a steady increase and it has suddenly shot up after the Mumbai terror strike.

Riding on increased threat perception, security agencies are raking in the moolah. 8220;Security agencies have been registering around 25 per cent annual increase in business for the past five years,8221; says Sagar Suman, assistant manager, Security and Intelligence Services India Pvt Limited.

The 71 security agencies operating in Pune city, with around 40,000 security staff, also get police help in updating their surveillance skills.

8220;We have made it mandatory for security agencies to obtain an operating licence from the police commissioner8217;s office. A few other norms are also laid down for them. We regularly conduct meetings to update them on security aspects,8221; said Joint Commissioner of Police Rajendra Sonawane.

Suman said that in the past few days, the demand for private security agencies has suddenly peaked. 8220;A lot of commercial establishments are demanding high levels of security at the main gates of their malls, multiplexes and corporate offices. They are demanding equipment like metal detectors and screen mirrors to screen vehicles, luggage and people inside the complexes. They don8217;t mind spending money for this. Our business has seen a manifold increase in the past few years in the backdrop of increased security needs,8221; said Suman.

Educational institutions were facing the biggest problem. 8220;As hundreds of students enter and exit college premises at a time, no one can possibly know who is entering with what intention. Security agencies even undertake works such as employee verification. Security agencies are required to verify details of even their staff on a regular basis.8221;

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Imamuddin Shaikh, manager of Property Guard Security Services, said, 8220;After the recent terror attacks, more and more commercial establishments and housing colonies are demanding armed guards. The demand for night patrol guards has also increased manifold.8221;

8220;Many guards are from the lower social strata. Many a time, they cannot muster the courage to check people from higher class. They get intimidated if someone shouts at them. This is the biggest problem the thousands of security guards face,8221; said Suman