Applications for Security Licences

Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) for the last three years, what is the total number of applications for security licences; (b) how many of these applications are rejected; (c) whether specific criminal records of the applicants will lead to unsuccessful applications; and (d) whether the Ministry will consider allowing applicants with criminal records to have their applications approved if they have clean records after a certain period.

Police received a total of 36,150 applications for security officer licences from 2010 to 2012. Of these, 2,194, or about 6% of applications were unsuccessful.

Police assesses each application on its own merit, based on the key consideration that the applicant must be able to protect the lives and properties of others and be effective in discharging this responsibility. To determine this, Police considers a holistic set of factors, including the criminal record of the applicant. Applicants, upon being accepted, will be trained and certified as security officers before being deployed to various assignments.

Persons who have committed criminal offences and who are assessed to be unsuitable for the security industry are likely to have their security officer licence applications rejected. Police will consider granting security officer licences to ex-offenders after a period of time if they can show that they have turned over a new leaf.