Global security

It is time for private and public security agencies to begin to actively collaborate in common pursuits. This morning's paper reports that a Bank's ATM guard in an isolated part of Chennai on the IT corridor was murdered and some three persons tried to break into the ATM locker but failed to get the cash. A couple of weeks ago, commotion at another ATM in a southern district of the state led to the guard opening fire leading to the killing of the Sub-Inspector of Police. Anticipating these problems in the month of December, 2009, while addressing a Global Security Conference in Delhi, I had empowered all 55 lakh or 5.5 million private security guards to become FOP ex officio. It was welcomed by all the leaders present including a former Home Minister, the current Mos Home and a host of other leaders of the private security industry as a move that will enable the private security guards to contribute to national security and to feel empowered to partner with the police in a role expected of any active enlightened citizen. The Minister of State for Home mentioned that it would cost the country upwards of Rupees Thirty five thousand crores to reach the international norm of one policeman for every five hundred citizens and he did not see it happening for a long time to come. That view also supported the need to engage the private security industry in nation building and nation securing activity.