China plans to introduce new regulations governing the training and supervision of security guards in order to prevent possible embezzlement.

Ma Weiya, an official with the Ministry of Public Security, said yesterday that since the first security guard company was launched in the boomtown of Shenzhen in 1984, China now has 2,258 security guard companies with 1.03 million authorized personnel. The country currently has another 3 million people waiting to be approved as guards.

 

"The security guard sector is developing rapidly but problems still exist. For instance, some security guards stole what was entrusted to their care," said Ma.

 

The regulations will stipulate how security guards should be trained and supervised as well as the punishments for those involved in criminal activities, he said.

 

Ma said security guards played an important role in maintaining social stability. Last year alone they provided 96,000 clues in connection with criminal cases to police authorities. Based on the clues more than 117,000 criminal suspects were arrested and 1.89 billion yuan (US$236.7 million) of public and individual assets recovered.

 

From 2001 to 2005 a total of 153 security guards lost their lives when performing duties.  

 

The regulations will also include provisions on protecting a security guard's legitimate rights, Ma added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2006)