...

Private security has experienced exponential growth in recent decades and is projected to continue growing... Under many circumstances, the presence of private forces acts as a prerequisite to carrying out the client’s operations. However, the quality of the services delivered, in part contingent on the working conditions of personnel, is the deciding factor in whether security services will improve security outcomes for clients, staff, and civilians or undermine these outcomes. The effects of working conditions ripple out onto communities... Poor working conditions can often violate and undermine the rights of personnel. These conditions also carry consequences for personnel’s mental and physical health, relationships, and life outside of work. A culture of silence in the industry further tends to brush working conditions under the rug, perpetuating poor working conditions at the cost of human rights adherence. This research is centered on both the people in the industry and the communities affected by its operations, shedding light on parts of the sector that have often been hidden from public view...

ICoCA conducted interviews with over 40 experts in the private security industry based across the world, including academics, managers of private security companies, personnel, and civil society organisations. An online survey was also distributed to about 400 personnel around the world and in-person surveys were also conducted with a total of about 3,000 personnel across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in 2023... Findings identified a variety of challenges in the workplace, including pay, hours, and discrimination. At the same time, the research also identified positive developments and examples of companies and clients advancing responsible security by investing in working conditions...