Questions to ask in a private security industry assessment to ensure accountability and oversight

• What laws and regulations are in place to govern the private security industry and the use of firearms by civilian corporate entities?
• How effective is their enforcement and which agencies are responsible for that enforcement?
• Which government agencies or ministries are involved in the control and regulation of private security companies (e.g. ministries of trade, economy, industry, the interior)?
• What procedures and criteria exist for licensing and registering companies?
• What systems and standards exist for vetting and licensing private security personnel?
• Have private security companies or their personnel been implicated in crime, including gender- based violence or trafficking, and have incidents led to trials or prosecutions?
• What voluntary codes of conduct, industry bodies and standards exist?
• Do procurers of private security services have procurement criteria or report information on the companies or individuals that they employ?
• Are there regulatory restrictions on the use of force and firearms by private security providers?

Source: Development Assistance Committee Handbook on Security System Reform: Supporting Security and Justice, p. 213 (OECD 2007)