Two British maritime security guards arrested in Nigeria  
Seatrade Global  |  31 March 2014
> Port2Port West Africa has vehemently denied allegations against two of its British security contractors arrested in Nigeria.

GAO: Noncompetitive Contracts Need Stronger Oversight  
Project on Government Oversight  |  28 March 2014
> This week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report analyzing a type of federal contract awarded without full and open competition.

New details emerge in Blackwater shootings case  
Yahoo News  |  28 March 2014
> U.S. prosecutors say they intend to introduce evidence at an upcoming trial of private contractor Blackwater security guards of deep hostility by several of the guards toward the Iraqi civilian population in the year before shootings that killed 14 Iraqis and wounded at least 18 others.

Iraq Shooting Suit Nixed for Lack of Jurisdiction  
Courthouse News Service  |  28 March 2014
> A British defense contractor need not face claims that one of its mercenaries shot a U.S. soldier in the foot in Iraq, leaving him disabled, a federal judge ruled.

He's Got Your Back: How a Protection Specialist Keeps Clients Safe  
Wall Street Journal  |  28 March 2014
> A top security specialist protects our reporter for a night—with a set of eye-opening tactics.

Protection Vessels International Achieves LRQA Accreditation  
MarineLink  |  26 March 2014
> Private maritime security services provider, Protection Vessels International (PVI), part of Protection Group International, informs that it has achieved ISO/PAS 28007 certification from Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA).

Tamil Nadu urged to set up centre to train security guards  
Times of India  |  25 March 2014
> Tamil Nadu should help set up a centre of excellence to train security guards, the Central Association of Private Security Industry has said, adding that the sector should be brought under a separate wing in the labour ministry.

Security at Sea on Agenda at Upcoming SMM Hamburg  
MarineLink  |  24 March 2014
> At the forthcoming SMM maritime trade fair in Hamburg in September 2014 experts will present new security concepts for sea routes.

Standard Risk: Is Your PMSC Competent?  
Maritime Executive  |  24 March 2014
> Ever wondered whether your Private Security Company is actually any good? What is the standard of your security provision at the point of delivery? The past 18 months has seen the introduction of two key international benchmarks that might help you decide; one centered on the land security environment – ANSI/ASIS PSC 1, and the other directed by the IMO, focused on the delivery of armed guards for the maritime industry – ISO PAS 28007.

MoI holds seminar for private security firms  
The Peninsula  |  21 March 2014
> A seminar under the banner “Towards the excellence in security services for the state of Qatar” concluded at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters under the auspices of Staff Maj Gen Saad bin Jassim al Khulaifi, the Director General of Public Security. The seminar is organized by the Public Guards Department and Police Training Institute.

Unarmed security guards easy prey for criminals  
Deccan Herald  |  20 March 2014
> The attack on a security guard at an ATM in Kammanahalli has brought to the fore how unarmed guards are becoming easy targets of criminals.

3 private guards to face manslaughter charges for UK death of Angolan deportee  
AP  |  20 March 2014
> Prosecutors say three British security guards will face manslaughter charges in the 2010 death of an Angolan who collapsed while being deported.

Court finds security company liable after robbery  
The Citizen  |  20 March 2014
> The Constitutional Court has found a security company liable for damages on Thursday for allowing robbers, posing as policemen, access to a client’s property.

Phantom Services signs deal with GOST  
Trade Only Today  |  19 March 2014
> Maritime security firm Phantom Services now offers global security concierge services, providing round-the-clock monitoring, tracking and recovery of vessels exclusively for customers with onboard marine security, monitoring and tracking systems from supplier GOST.

Command Security Corporation Announces Investment in Ocean Protection Services Ltd.  
Command Security  |  19 March 2014
> Command Security Corporation (NYSE:MOC) announced today that it has acquired a minority interest in Ocean Protection Services Ltd (OPS), a UK based company specializing in armed maritime security, risk management and risk analysis. Command also announced today that the Company has been notified that the Western Region security services contract with a major transportation company will not be renewed beyond May 31, 2014.

No Corporate Impunity for Abu Ghraib Torture, Attorneys Urge Court  
Center for Constitutional Rights  |  18 March 2014
> A month before the 10-year anniversary of the Abu Ghraib torture photos, attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and co-counsel urged a federal appeals court to re-open a case brought by four Iraqi Abu Ghraib torture victims against private military contractor CACI Premier Technology, Inc.

Meet G4S, the Contractors Who Go Where Governments and Armies Can’t—or Won’t  
Vanity Fair  |  17 March 2014
> In the April issue of Vanity Fair, William Langewiesche embeds with warrior/investigators from G4S, the world’s third-largest private-sector employer—men and women overseas who are keeping you safe, even if you don’t know it.

Olive Group is First Private Security Company to be Awarded Accredited Certification to the Private Security Standard (PSC1): a Key Milestone for the Company and the Industry  
PR Newswire  |  17 March 2014
> Olive Group FZ-LLC has become the first private security company globally to achieve accredited certification against the PSC1 standard for private security companies. This follows a rigorous process of audit and inspection of its corporate management systems and its field operations in Iraq.

Call for Unified Standards for Maritime Security  
Maritime Executive  |  14 March 2014
> Shipping companies increase reputational risk by ignoring international standards for private maritime security; Compliance and high professional standards should be championed

MSS Global Awarded Accredited Certification  
PRWeb.com  |  14 March 2014
> MSS Global has been awarded “accredited certification body” (CB) status by the UK Accreditation Service.LRQA achieves accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) for ISO 28000 including ISO/PAS 28007:2012 Guidelines for Private Maritime Security companies.

Op-Ed: Standards Needed for U.S. Maritime Security Firms  
Maritime Executive  |  13 March 2014
> Why do U.S.-owned private maritime security teams continually get in trouble on ships overseas? Does the U.S. adhere to a lower standard than the rest of the world when it comes to private maritime security? The answers may surprise you.

UK Maritime Security Firm Ambrey Risk Gains Accreditation  
MarineLink  |  13 March 2014
> Maritime security company Ambrey Risk, specialists in commercial shipping in the oil and gas sector inform it has now been formally awarded full certification & accreditation for ISO 28000: ISO/PAS 28007, following Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) being appointed as a ‘Certifying Body’ (CB) against ISO/PAS 28007 by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS).

Going global with security training from Portland firm Transeacure  
Dorset Echo  |  12 March 2014
> A Portland firm is going global in its bid to educate on security and piracy. Transeacure will teach close protection and anti-piracy measures to people in the United States.

Port2Port Maritime Security UKAS Certified  
MarineLink  |  12 March 2014
> Port2Port Maritime Security Ltd. has been awarded full certification / accreditation for ISO 28000: ISO/PAS 28007. Following a rigorous validation process, Port2Port is independently certified through MSS Global via the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), with full compliance to the new security management system specification.

Private security firms prosper as more migrants detained  
IRIN  |  12 March 2014
> The riot at Australia’s offshore processing centre for asylum seekers on Manus Island, in Papua New Guinea (PNG), last month, which left one detainee dead and more than 70 others injured, has put the spotlight on the outsourcing of numerous aspects of migration control to private security companies.

G4S agrees to repay £109m for overcharging on tagging contracts  
The Guardian  |  12 March 2014
> The private security firm G4S has agreed to repay £109m plus VAT for overcharging the Ministry of Justice for the electronic tagging of offenders – but still remains barred from bidding for fresh contracts.

Zuma urged to reconsider private security bill  
eNews Channel Africa  |  12 March 2014
> The private security industry called on President Jacob Zuma on Monday to reconsider a bill which limits foreign ownership in private security companies.

SEC has opened investigation into KBR, whistleblower’s lawyer says  
Washington Post  |  10 March 2014
> The Securities and Exchange Commission has opened an investigation into one of the nation’s largest government contractors following claims that employees seeking to report fraud had to sign confidentiality statements barring them from disclosing the allegations to anyone, including federal prosecutors and investigators, according to lawyers in the case.

UN planning treaty to regulate private contractors, mercenaries  
Voice of Russia  |  10 March 2014
> A group under the United Nations Human Rights Council met March 7 in Geneva to consider the creation of a binding legal treaty to regulate the activities of “private military and security companies”, or PMSCs.

NSCDC Urges Private Security Companies To Insure Workers  
Leadership  |  10 March 2014
> The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on Monday advised private security companies to insure their workers, to protect them in crisis situations.

AdvanFort Begins Internal Restructuring  
MarineLink  |  6 March 2014
> Private maritime security provider AdvanFort announced that it will commence a restructuring program to implement rigid quality control for its PCASPs, meant to ensure that the company complies fully with all regulations in the maritime security industry.

Azerbaijan to impose severe penalties for participation in armed conflicts outside the country  
Azerbaijan Press Agency  |  4 March 2014
> Azerbaijan will tighten penalties for recruitment, training of mercenaries and their use in armed conflicts, military operations, as well as impose new severe penalties for setting up armed groups outside the territory of Azerbaijan and their participation in armed conflicts.

Low Pay, Long Hours  
The Economic Times  |  4 March 2014
> After working a 16-hour shift, 23-year-old Yahia finally heads home. According to the contract he signed in 2011 with his employer, Al-Wafa Security Company, Yahia works as a guard for an oil company.

Security firm SIS to buy Indian companies, targets 40% growth  
The Economic Times  |  4 March 2014
> Homegrown security services firm SIS India is preparing a war chest of over Rs 750 crore with the help of funding from private equity player CX Partners for acquiring companies in India and is targeting a 40% growth in its business over the next two years.

Ex-Blackwater contractors seek dismissal of case  
Wall Street Journal  |  4 March 2014
> The Afghan government is moving to dissolve a crucial guard force that protects military supply convoys, international aid programs and foreign installations, creating new uncertainty over security as the U.S. and its allies withdraw.

Ex-Blackwater contractors seek dismissal of case  
AP  |  3 March 2014
> Former security contractors charged in a deadly shooting in Iraq are asking a federal judge to dismiss the indictment against them as the case moves forward to trial.

Liberians Involved - Gov't Confirms Mercenary Elements in Ivory Coast  
Front Page Africa  |  3 March 2014
> Information Minister Lewis Brown has confirmed the involvement of Liberian mercenaries in recent reported attacks in neighboring Cote D'ivoire. Minister Brown speaking at the ministry's regular press briefing told journalists that the government was relying on Ivorian intelligence in making the allegations.

Concern grows over rising piracy off West Africa  
Agence France Press  |  1 March 2014
> The International Maritime Bureau said West African piracy made up 19 percent of attacks worldwide last year, with Nigerian pirates accounting for 31 of the region's 51 attacks -- the most since 2008.