The FINANCIAL — Following growth of private property ownership, security service is becoming increasingly in demand in Georgia, according to the directors of security companies in the country.
The FINANCIAL — Following growth of private property ownership, security service is becoming increasingly in demand in Georgia, according to the directors of security companies in the country. The only issue that is hampering the development process of security service is legislative bases, which do not provide equal conditions for all the security service providers on the market, directors claim. It is evident that within the framework of increasing competition players are finding it difficult to share the market.
“The only problem of private security companies is that security police are monopolising the market,” said Merab Melua, Director of security company Alligator. “One example of this disparity is how security police have the right to carry firearms which we do not. This means that we lose clients that require armed security, such as banks and money-related companies. Also, security police control private security companies and often fine us for petty reasons such as apparently having untidy uniforms. If a company incurs five fines in a year, the company then loses its license for the next five years. To get a license in the first place, security companies have to pay GEL 50,000. What’s more, even our clients have been put under pressure by the security police. As our clients have told us, security police made them be their clients and refuse cooperation with us,” said Melua.
“Private security companies and security police are subject to completely different conditions,” said Giorgi Melikidze, Director of Security Service Algani. “Private companies have to work in an unhealthy state of competition. We are losing so many clients because we are not allowed to use weapons. By way of an exception this year Bank of Georgia started cooperation with us for the first time ever. If we want to develop this sphere in Georgia, we need proper legislation bases which will create equal conditions for every company. It is not fair when your competitor is able to control you. The security police should be either a controlling agency or else a security company like the rest of us. They should choose just one role, not both. Because we offer a quality service at very affordable prices however, the clients of security police are gradually transferring to us instead,” he said.
In contrast, security police officials deny all the charges and claim that their actions are regulated by the law. “The law may have some flaws but it is not appropriate to discuss the matter during a period of transition such as this. The security police are a controlling agency that does its work fairly,” said the official side of security police in Georgia.
The security police makes up 51 percent of the market, which is normal, officials say.
According to the law (chapter VI, article 22), which has been in force since February 2009, a security guard may use the following tools: handcuffs or other things for binding, rubber batons, tear-gas, vehicle and dog.
“I would say that the state structure is stronger and it is better for security police to have more choices,” said Tornike Jojua, Director of Magistri. “It is very difficult and expensive to train staff and teach them how to use a gun. In the event of a hostage situation, security police would be more effective than private companies because security police are much better-trained and better professionals on the whole as a staff force. We do not have enough finances to do the same trainings,” he added.
In total there are 20-50 security companies in Georgia. After paying GEL 50,000 entities are given a license to operate as a security firm, without expiration. The average price for bodyguard service is GEL 500 per day per bodyguard. The monthly fee for technical service amounts to GEL 50-200 depending on the specific service. The minimum wage for a bodyguard in Georgia is GEL 300. As the directors of security companies say, alarm security and video and GPS monitoring are more popular in Georgia than manpower because of the price difference between these services. Mobile groups patrol 50-70 times a day. The main reason for most alarms being set off is carelessness on the part of the client. Robbery is the most frequent crime being called in. Most of the alarm calls are made from restaurants, especially at weekends. Security companies pay GEL 500,000 to the state budget every year.
“The cost of technical security is less, which is why most customers choose this service as it’s cheaper. Most of the time, it is our clients making mistakes which result in false alarms. Sometimes they forget to punch in a code for example, or leave their pets at home. Brawls at restaurants, or people refusing to pay bills, are also the most common reasons for calls to our office,” said Jojua.
Discussion about this post