A pair of security guards employed by Shukaku Inc walk down a street in Daun Penh district in January. Photo by: Will Baxter

The National Police force began training private security guards yesterday as part of its effort to prepare for next year’s meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which will be held in Cambodia for the first time.

Deputy National Police chief Sok Phal said the training, which began at the anti-terrorism department, was the first of its kind in Cambodia.

“This is the first time we have offered training for private security guards since our force was created in 1990,” he said, adding that the effort to engage the private sector in ensuring public order would help Cambodia catch up with efforts made by neighbouring countries.

The main motivation behind the move is to prepare for next year’s ASEAN meetings, Sok Phal said.

“Cambodia will be host of ASEAN in 2012, so we need police and private security guards to work together for this event,” he said. “It is a big and important event. We all need to prepare for it. We need private security guards to work with police to ensure security for our national honour,” he said, adding that collaboration between police and private security guards would also enhance security nationally in commune and village-safety programs.

Noun Ngork, a director of the anti-terrorism department, said 70 guards from 45 security companies began the first stage of training yesterday. The five-day session covers enhanced cooperation between security guards and police, strategies for ensuring security, workshops on laws and tactical exercises, he said.  

Sok Phal said there were about 55,000 police officers nationwide and about 30,000 private security guards, adding that their assistance was necessary to ensure safety at large events, such as the Gyeongju Expo in Siem Reap, he said.

Of the 90 private security companies listed with the national police, 59 have been contracted to provide assistance for the ASEAN meetings and 18 more are preparing to sign contracts, Sok Phal said.