Africa-Press – Kenya. All bouncers will be required to operate under corporate entities as part of reforms being introduced in the sub-sector.
This was revealed during the start of the training and vetting of the bouncers.
Director General of Private Security Regulatory Authority Fazul Mahamad said the order to have the bouncers join corporate bodies or vetted companies is aimed at ensuring accountability.
It is also part of ongoing reforms in the area that is gaining notoriety.
“To enhance accountability, all bouncers are hereby mandated to operate under the umbrella of corporate entities.”
“By aligning bouncer operations with corporate structures, there is a greater emphasis on standardized protocols, background checks, and training,” he said.
This will also among others ensure their welfare is taken care of.
“Entities will recruit bouncers from known companies. We need to have order in this area,” he said.
He said those found offering the services of a bouncer without being the holder of a valid training certificate from an institution accredited by PSRA or operating as a bouncer without being registered and licensed by the Authority commit an offence and shall be liable to such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person and Sh2 million in the case of a corporate.
Additionally, a person who hires employs or otherwise engages in the services of any unlicensed bouncer commits an offence and shall be liable to such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person and Sh2 million in the case of a corporate.
Fazul told the group the world is changing and needs more skills to handle other than physical force.
“You must undergo training to know how to detect some of these incidents. The people you deal with are your clients, not enemies,” he said.
He said the new process of vetting the group is mandatory.
“Let it be clear from the onset, vetting, training and licensing is not a choice but a non-negotiable requirement of the law.”
“This initiative is a critical pillar of the government’s broader security reform agenda and particularly a great milestone in addressing the various skills and knowledge gaps within this cadre of workers in the private security industry,” he said.
He said custodians of safety and order in entertainment venues, recreational facilities, and sporting establishments, bouncers, bodyguards, event stewards, door supervisors, event security, VIP protection, close protection, and crowd control security personnel are subject to and must, at all times respect and comply with the provisions of the PSRA Act No. 13 of 2016.
Sections 21 and 28 of the Act require that no person shall engage in the provision of private security services unless that person has undergone mandatory security vetting, training and licensing in accordance with the Act.
“Woe unto those who will dare treat them as anything less than binding obligations. In strict compliance with the law, a person offering the services of any of the above-referenced security personnel must undergo security vetting, be registered and licensed to operate as a private security service provider.”
He added the group or any other person hired or otherwise engaged to ensure order and safety on premises used for entertainment, recreational or sporting purposes is required to within the next three weeks to undergo training in security matters in an institution accredited by PSRA as a prerequisite requirement for registration and licensing in accordance with the law.
The training regimen shall equip them with an expansive array of skills, encompassing strategies for preventing and defusing conflict situations, proficiency in venue searches, pat down searches and bag searches and professionalism, customer care and communication skills.
They will be trained in dealing with illegal drugs and emergency planning.
“Upon successful completion of the training, the Authority will issue Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to registered and licensed bouncers. It is mandatory for all bouncers to visibly wear the Guard Force Numbers bearing their names and license numbers while on duty.”
“The Guard Force Number (GFN) – is the Government seal of approval. It dignifies you as a professional and it is your badge of honor,” he said.
The move came after bouncers at Kettle House Bar in Lavington assaulted police and journalists during an operation last Friday night.
The 21 arrested bouncers who were arrested were among others charged and prosecuted for the offence of operating as a bouncer without a licence under section 69 of the Private Security Regulation Act.
National chairman of Aegis Stewards Association Brian Ongore said the move will help them remove quacks from the industry.
“It will help us remove quacks from the industry and we also hope it will help us rebrand ourselves and Increase professionalism in the sector.”
“We also hope it will make the government now recognise us as a force and a major branch in the security industry,” he said.
He asked the government to consult further and have a curriculum that is efficient and effective for the day-to-day work in the industry.
“We also hope we shall have one association to regulate our people on the ground as PSRA also regulates us at the top.”
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