Any fast-developing metropolis will have to contend with an equally fast-increasing crime rate. What needs to be understood is that the job of the government law enforcement agency (that is, the police) is to protect society as a whole. They simply cannot be expected to protect each and every person or establishment individually.

Neither can they be expected to prevent crimes. Their job is to respond to criminal acts and apprehend criminals. 

The Supreme Court has said that individuals are responsible for their own safety, since the police cannot be everywhere at all times.

Therefore, it becomes imperative to invest in private security to prevent crime. Unfortunately, the state of private security in our cities is pathetic. The foremost reason behind this is our own apathy. Citizens do not want to invest in security. Due to this, security agencies are unable to pay worthwhile salaries to their personnel; in effect we get untrained and incompetent people.

Fortunately, businesses and establishments which are at greater risk, have begun spending seriously on hiring or setting up their own security departments.

However, for the Rs 200 cr private security industry to develop sufficiently, there will have to be serious implementation of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005, and the Maharashtra Private Security Agency Rules, 2007. And the superfluous Maharashtra Private Security Guard Board, set up under the Maharashtra Private Security Guards Act 1981, should be done away with.

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