WILLEMSTAD - As part of the responsibility for maintaining public order, Minister of Justice Mr. Shalten Hato believes that there should be a law to structure the existence of security companies, which also involves investment in the training of personnel for these companies.
This is part of the governance program of Cabinet Pisas II, which highlights the need to work on regulations for the security sector consisting of security companies. For this reason, Minister Hato has been working on a draft law that will regulate that in the future, a security company must possess a permit in order to function as such.
Furthermore, the security company must meet reliability requirements and demonstrate expertise in the field by investing in its personnel. The Minister of Justice will be the authority responsible for granting, extending, or revoking the permit of a security company. The Police Force will be the agency that handles the permits in question. Additionally, on behalf of the Minister of Justice, the Police Force will be the authority that grants, extends, or revokes permits or decisions regarding the personnel serving in security companies.
The Police Force is the only institution tasked with the responsibility and authority, based on the law, to ensure public order and conduct criminal investigations. In order to fulfill this task, the Police Force has the authority, when necessary, to use force and necessary methods to maintain public order.
The role of the police is not the surveillance of an individual or the property of an individual or company. For the latter, a security company, upon request from a company or individual, can provide surveillance services for a person or their property. The security company does not act based on the law or conduct criminal investigations. In principle, the personnel of the security company do not have the authority to conduct investigations either.
Security companies oversee the security of individuals, as well as the protection of materials and immovable property, against disturbances of order or tranquility on premises or within a building. This industry needs to be regulated, considering that each security company, in one way or another, may interfere with the right to privacy or freedom of movement of individuals. This law will establish requirements that a security company must adhere to. This will be made possible by requiring every security company to function as such to obtain a permit from the Minister of Justice to carry out the tasks mentioned.
The law will ensure that the security company complies with the requirements that make it reliable and capable of fulfilling surveillance tasks. The government supports those who believe in our country and decide to establish a company, such as a security company. However, it is deemed necessary to regulate when and where a person working in the service of a security company can act and what authority they possess.