The director of the National Police’s Department of Private Security Management has called on private security companies to collaborate with authorities to ensure order during next month’s Water Festival.

Lim Sokha Rasmey, speaking at a training course on Friday, told private security guards present that they served as the police’s main back-up at national festivals attended by large crowds.

He said security guards have been requested to provide police with information on the events taking place where they are stationed.

“This call for private security companies to assist does not mean that the police do not have enough manpower to maintain security for citizens.

“Private security companies are only asked to assist when there are celebrations involving millions of people,” Sokha Rasmey said.

Private security guards had received training from the Department of Private Security Management and therefore had a good relationship with the police, so when offences occurred they could quickly provide information so the police could then intervene, he said.

Cambodia currently has 251 registered private security companies, with more than 10,000 security guards nationwide. Other institutions in the Kingdom also employ nearly 20,000 security personnel.

Heng Meng Ho, CEO of Libra Private Security, told The Post on Monday that his company was happy to work with the police during the Water Festival.

“Libra Private Security is happy to collaborate and support good deeds for our

society,” he said, adding that his company had participated in the inauguration of the Win-Win Monument in December last year at the request of government ministries.

“In the future, Libra intends to further help the police by providing modern technology like artificial intelligence to manage public security,” Meng Ho said.