Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-02-21 11:42:59
Fazul Mahamed, the CEO of the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA), made an announcement on Wednesday regarding new guidelines for the use of animals, particularly dogs, for security purposes. These guidelines, outlined in the Private Security (Use of Animals in Private Security Services) Regulations 2024, are designed to ensure the protection of both animal and human life.
In adherence to these regulations, all private security service providers are required to maintain comprehensive records for each animal, including their name, breed, date of birth, identity marks, and characteristics. Furthermore, the animals must undergo training and certification for security work, and the security officer or guard responsible for handling the animal must also undergo appropriate training and certification.
Additionally, private security service providers must keep detailed health records for each animal, documenting every visit to a licensed veterinarian. Fazul Mahamed emphasized that these regulations include necessary guidelines for animal handlers, covering their transportation, housing, welfare, and protections. The primary goal of these guidelines is to ensure the animals are healthy, sufficiently trained, safe, and free from pain.
The use of animals in private security services may include activities such as crowd detection and control, patrolling, protection, and participation in demonstration parades. However, it is prohibited to use an animal if it has been trained to kill or seriously injure people or other animals, or if it has been diagnosed with an illness of any kind. Each animal used must be uniquely identified with an embedded ear tag and accompanied by a trained handler who maintains control over the animal. In the case of dogs, they must be kept on a leash at all times during ground patrol.
Private security service providers are also responsible for feeding, caring for, and protecting the animals from cruelty. The custodian of an animal is required to treat it with respect and dignity and will be held accountable for any actions carried out by the animal. Additionally, all custodians are obligated to provide veterinary care to the animals and should not subject them to any form of fear, pain, stress, or suffering.
Furthermore, the animals should be transported in a manner that does not cause injury, pain, or anxiety. The transportation vehicle should have separate cages for each animal, approved by a certified veterinary surgeon.
The regulations state that any person who contravenes these guidelines commits an offense and is liable to conviction, with penalties including a fine not exceeding Ksh20,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both.
In conclusion, the new guidelines for the use of animals in private security services aim to prioritize the welfare and protection of both animals and humans. By implementing these regulations, the PSRA is taking proactive steps to ensure the ethical and responsible use of animals in the security industry.
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