THE ambushing and killing of two MMC security guards by a heavily armed gang Monday, along with previous attacks on GEB Security Services, Professional Guard Services — some with fatal consequences — has once more led private security firms to believe they are faced with a new kind of threat from criminal elements.The developing situation is of serious concern to the administration of some key security firms who feel that the time has come for a review and unified examination of how security firms now manage their business.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of GEB Security Services Inc., Mr. Maurice Amres yesterday said he was saddened by the Monday attack, noting that “criminal elements are trying to drive fear into security personnel”.

He feels the Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO), the umbrella body for some 16 security companies, and those not yet affiliated, should urgently come together to share experiences and strategies, in a bid to finding a solution to this problem.

The situation requires careful analysis by GAPSO and its membership, Amres said, adding that his company in a statistical review of what is happening in the country, as it relates to crime, observed that security guards and watchmen are being attacked.

He noted that the attacks began in 2002 following the jailbreak when several policemen were gunned down, pointing out that that went on for a while before there was a lull.

Amres said that fortunately, the morale of the police did not diminish as the criminal elements may have hoped, adding that his company is doing everything possible to keep the morale of its employees as high as possible in the face of these current attacks.

“Efforts must be made to arrive at some solution that would help security firms to better protect what ever they are protecting now. There is need to have equipment appropriate for the protection of the guards in their employ such as bullet proof vests, protective helmets, and equipment for communication purposes.”

“We need not only to be a step ahead, by just sending out a guard to do a job but that the individual must have the confidence with the equipment that he is using.”

Noting that at present security firms are underpowered when it comes to weapons because the criminal elements use high-powered guns, Amres said, nevertheless, “we have to do the best we can, especially when transporting money to and from remote areas.”

This, he said, calls for security companies to ensure that they have the required communication equipment including VHF radios, cellphones and, to a certain extent, protective equipment.

Amres noted too that it seems that the criminal elements are now moving in large numbers with superior firepower, adding “this is a serious situation to deal with.”

Alluding to reports of recent attacks by the criminal elements, he said they appear to know where to go, and when to strike.

But he remarked, “They (criminals) could not just look at a building and get the information…in some instances it would appear that some of the robberies were done either with information supplied by, or, with collaboration with some dishonest employees.

“We need to stop talking about being a step ahead of the criminals and instead keep up with the criminals,” Amres argued.

He called for the 200-odd security organizations that provide some level of service in the country, to now come on board with GAPSO so that there can be a unified approach to nipping this apparent developing situation in the bud.

Mr. Dougal Kirpatrick, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Professional Guard Service, whose company lost a dedicated employee at the hands of criminal elements, has in the face of the recent attacks, reiterated an appeal for his company to be granted special concessions to aid in the purchase of protective wear for his guards.

Kirpatrick said on hearing of Monday’s incident he relived the entire scenario of his company.

Offering his sympathy to MMC and the family of the slain and wounded guards, he said the time has come when every rank should be issued with Level 7 bullet proof vests, which would stop a 762 calibre round, the type used in the AK-47 weapon popularly used by criminals worldwide.

He too spoke of the need for all security firms to be united in their approach in fighting crime, noting that current members of GAPSO would after every incident involving a security guard, meet to review with the aim of improving protection of people .

General Manager of Federal Management Systems, Mr. Troy Valladares, noted that there is definitely a different level and type of threat facing the security industry.

He said the bandits seem to be better equipped with sophisticated weaponry than the private security firms.

“They (criminals) seem to be well trained, well organized and it is obvious that they engage in lots of surveillance of the operations of private security firms, the ambush-style attack they employ, that of way-laying security firms.”

Pointing out that such actions show that they already have information on the route, time and other movements, Valladares said security companies must urgently review their operations.

“There is an obvious need for counter surveillance by security companies, that is the establishing counter-surveillance unit, which will operate undetected among the ordinary citizens for the purpose of information gathering,” he suggested.

According to the FMS General Manager, training should be given top priority in a security organization, as he disclosed that at his outfit training similar to that undergone by SWAT teams, is provided at least four times yearly by officials from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department.

He also stressed the need for companies to invest in proper gear and vehicles and also called for all security firms to embrace GAPSO as the only way in counter-matching the criminal elements.

Valladares also expressed sympathy on behalf of his company to MMC and families of the slain security guards.