You have asked a very good question about the Private Security Firms operating in Iraq because they are operating there at arms length of the media. It is a hell of a job trying to get journalists in with at least one PSF firm due to there "silent ops" in and around Iraq. The PSF is often known as the FPS (Facilities Protection Service). From the latest census poll taken in June 2007 there is a around 146,000 that belong to this ‘security’ force.
As to the pay it is well know that well trained FPS members are paid up to $1000.00 US a day for their services. Not bad money, but of course there is huge risk along with that.
The establishment of the ‘Facilities Protection Service’ was formed on the 04 October 2003. They consist of employees who are engaged to perform services for the ministries or governorates of Iraq and they are licensed and authorized and have standards set by the Ministry of Interior. They can also be privately hired. The FPS is tasked with the fixed site protection of Ministerial, Governmental, or private buildings, facilities and personnel. The FPS security includes Oil, Electricity Police and Port Security.
The majority of the FPS staff consists of former service members and former security guards. The FPS secure public facilities such as hospitals, banks, and power stations within Iraq. Once trained, the guards work with US military forces protecting critical sites like schools, hospitals and power plants.
There are about 30+ known private security firms working in Iraq. These include:
AEGIS PLC
BLACKWATER USA.
BlACKWATER K9 DOG
ERINYS IRAQ LTD.
AD CONSULTANCY (UK)
AKE Ltd (UK)
BAGHDAD FIRE AND SECURITY (IRAQ)
ARMOR GROUP (UK)
CONTROL RISKS GROUP (UK)
CUSTER BATTLES (US)
DEHDARI GENERAL TRADING & CONTRACTING EST.(KUWAIT)
DILIGENCE MIDDLE EAST (US)
GENRIC (UK)
GLOBAL RISK STRATEGIES (Dubai,UAE)
GROUP 4 FALCK A/S (INDIA)
HENDERSON RISK LTD (UK)
HILL AND ASSOCIATES (HONG KONG)
ICP- British and US Special Forces or Elite Forces personnel. (UK)
ISI
METEORIC TACTICAL SOLUTIONS (S. AFRICA)
MEYER & ASSOCIATES, (TEXAS, US)
OLIVE SECURITY LTD (UK)
OPTIMAL SOLUTION SERVICES (AUSTRALIA)
OVERSEAS SECURITY AND STRATEGIC INFORMATION, INC/SAFENET-IRAQ (US)
RAMOPS RISK MANAGEMENT GROUP SOG-SMG INC. (US)
SUMER INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
DYNCORP. INT; (IRAQ)
TOR INTERNATIONAL (former SAS and Special Forces staff) (UK)
TRIPLE CANOPY (more than 20 years in the most elite military Special Operations units) (US)
UNITY RESOURCES GROUP (Middle East) LLC. (security professionals drawn from the Special Forces and Police SWAT communities of the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. (Dubai, UAE)
WADE-BOYD & ASSOCIATES (US)
Much of the training for these firms takes place at Basra Palace. Maj. A. J. Layden is responsible for the Facilities Protection Service (FPS). The Base oversees a wide range of activities; from working with the border guards away to the east of Basra, to running training courses for the FPS. He and his team have already run four five-day courses which include foot drill, weapon handling, basic first aid and vehicle check point drills. The aim throughout each course is to raise confidence amongst the men of the FPS in basic standards and encourage good practice. At the end of each course, the top students have been selected to receive further instruction to educate them how to lead future courses.
Here is a further list of other bases for FPS Training:
BAGHDAD, Al RASHID DISTRICT
MEK Compound / FOB Mercury / Camp Mercury
AN NAJAF
AR RAMADI
KARBALA
The FPS is an organization of trained, armed, uniformed entities charged with providing security for ministry and governorate offices, government infrastructure, and fixed sites under the direction and control of governmental ministries and governorate administrations.
Governmental employees employed by the ministries or governorates are eligible to serve in the FPS. The FPS may also consist of employees of private security firms who are engaged to perform services for the ministries or governorates through contracts, provided such private security firms and employees are licensed and authorized by the Ministry of Interior.
Ministers and heads of governorate administrations determine the need for FPS members at locations under their supervision. Each ministry or governorate administration is responsible for ensuring the FPS branch under its supervision is sufficient to protect key sites for which it is responsible, with the additional support of police or other forces in times of emergency.
Ministries and governorate administrations are responsible for the funding of FPS members assigned to their agency. Ministries and governorate administrations are responsible for the supervision and control of the FPS force assigned to their governmental agency, consistent with the standards and regulations established by the Ministry of Interior.
Governorates establish Regional Operations Centers to coordinate the operations of FPS guards and to ensure their proper integration with police and other emergency services.
FPS organizations are also known by different names including, for example "Electricity Police," "Diplomatic Protective Services," or "Oil Police" but each will have only the specific powers and authorities granted in this Order.
Members of the FPS follow a strict code of conduct that includes no participation in any manner in organizations or activities that advocate racial, gender or ethnic hatred or intolerance; advocate, create, or engage in illegal discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, or regional origin; or use, or advocate the use of, force or violence or other unlawful means to achieve internal political goals. Violations result in the removal of the member from their employment in the FPS or the withdrawal of the authorization for the member to perform FPS responsibilities as a member of a private security firm.
Members of the FPS, while performing their official duties, apprehend persons who they witness committing or attempting to commit a criminal offense, have escaped after being lawfully arrested, or otherwise interfere with their lawful activities. Persons apprehended by the FPS are turned over to the Iraqi police or Coalition Forces within twelve hours of apprehension or they are released.
Members, while performing their official duties, conduct reasonable searches for weapons or other dangerous or prohibited items of persons entering or within the governmental property or offices they are securing, criminal suspects in their custody, or vehicles entering or coming within governmental properties or offices they are securing.
Members, while performing official duties, use force against persons or things as is reasonable and necessary under those circumstances. However, the use of force that may be likely to cause death or serious bodily injury is not permitted unless the member reasonably believes that using such force is necessary to protect himself or others from the imminent use of deadly force or force likely to cause serious bodily injury, prevent the escape of a person suspected of committing murder or assault resulting in serious bodily injury, or defend ministry or governorate offices, government or state-owned infrastructure, and fixed sites under the direction and control of governmental ministries and governorate administrations, to prevent their destruction or incapacitation.
Members are subject to Iraqi law at all times, and the courts of Iraq have jurisdiction over offenses alleged to have been committed by members of the FPS. The Administrator determines what offenses have allegedly have been committed by members of the FPS while on duty and may be submitted to the Central Criminal Court of Iraq.
Members of the FPS enjoy immunity from civil liability for actions arising within the scope of their duties and in the conduct of authorized operations to the same degree as other governmental officials under the law of Iraq.
These are some of the functions and restrictions and everyday operations that are carried out by the FPS and i hope this answers all your questions in relation to the service in finer detail than would otherwise be the case. Cheers.
Answered By: The Navigator - 9/3/2007 |