A private security guard stands outside a bank in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district. Heng Chivoan
Phnom Penh municipal police’s private security management office has given a one-month ultimatum to premises owners who hire security guards without permits to complete registration.
Khlok Chunpheng, head of the security management office, told The Post on January 5 that failing to do so will result in fines.
He added that according to a sub-decree on private security management, non-compliant enterprises and establishment owners could be fined 10 million riel ($2,439), and security companies that hire guards without registering them with the Ministry of Interior will be fined 20 million riel.
Chunpheng also urged all owners of enterprises, establishments, gated communities, condos and apartments who hire security guards to complete the registration on time to avoid fines.
Nop Kanol, head of the enterprises and establishments division in the security management office, told The Post on January 5 that there are two ways to recruit private security guards.
The first is where a company provides the service of security guards to those in need of them. The second is where an individual hires a security guard to safeguard their safety and pays a salary directly.
He said the office requires private security guards to be registered for easier management and to prevent them from overstepping boundaries in their work.
He added that unregistered security guards could be dangerous individuals or those who have committed a crime.
“The owners of enterprises, establishments, gated communities, condos and apartments should recruit [registered] security guards because they will take care of the property.
“A proper registration, which is a form of cooperation with the police, helps them a lot because we train them on how to perform work and identify individuals [who might threaten security] to ensure their safety,” he said.
According to the security management office, there are currently 882 enterprises, establishments, gated communities, condos and apartments across 14 districts in Phnom Penh that have hired private security guards. But only 168 of them, including 19 gated communities, are legally registered.
