ALEXANDRIA, VA--(Marketwire - January 24, 2011) - ASIS International has announced its intent to develop two American National Standards to support the recently signed International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. Private security companies and other private security service providers are critical elements for supporting peace and stability efforts in regions where the capacity of societal institutions have become overwhelmed by human and natural caused disruptive events. The standards will provide auditable criteria with accompanying guidance for developing and implementing a management system to assure quality of services and demonstrate accountability to the Code of Conduct.
"This global initiative will bring together clients, service providers, non-governmental and rights groups from the public and private sector to codify benchmarks for best practices consistent with the goal of simultaneously promoting stability and respect for human and civil rights," says Dr. Marc Siegel, Commissioner, ASIS International Global Standards Initiative. "The standards will serve as the basis for assuring accountability and improvement of performance."
The Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations -- Requirements with Guidance (ASIS PSC.01) Standard builds off the Code of Conduct to assure conformity to pertinent legal obligations and best practices related to operations of private military and security companies in conditions where the rule of law has been undermined by conflict or disaster. It provides auditable requirements based on the Plan-Do-Check-Act model for third-party certification.
The Conformity Assessment and Auditing Management Systems for Quality of Private Security Company Operations (ASIS PSC.02) Standard provides requirements for bodies providing auditing and third party certification of private security company operations, including requirements and guidance on the management of audit programs, conduct of internal or external audits of the management system and PSC operations, as well as on competence and evaluation of auditors.
"The importance of this industry sector in support of peace, stability, and relief and recovery operations around the world cannot be understated," said Christopher T. Mayer, Director, Armed Contingency Contractor Policies and Programs, ODASD, U.S. Department of Defense. "It is essential that we develop standards that clients and service providers can use to assure the highest respect for human and civil rights while working in challenging environments."
Having conducted the ANSI Project Initiation Notification System (PINS) process, ASIS is positioned to establish an inclusive technical committee to develop the standards. Work on technical committee formation is expected to begin shortly with a call for participation to industry, client and rights groups around the globe. For more information, visit www.asisonline.org.
ASIS International is the preeminent organization for security professionals, with more than 37,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics. ASIS also advocates the role and value of the security management profession to business, the media, government entities and the public. By providing members and the security community with access to a full range of programs and services, and by publishing the industry's No. 1 magazine -- Security Management -- ASIS leads the way for advanced and improved security performance.
The work of preparing ASIS Standards and Guidelines is carried out through the ASIS International Standards and Guidelines Commission and its committees. ASIS International is an ANSI accredited Standards Development Organization and actively participates in the International Organization for Standardization, developing standards and guidelines within a voluntary, nonproprietary and consensus-based process, utilizing the knowledge, experience and expertise of ASIS membership, security professionals and the global security industry. View a complete list of all ASIS Standards and Guidelines currently under development.