ISO 18788

ISO 18788:2015 (BDS ISO 18788:2016) PRIVATE SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. REQUIREMENTS WITH IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES

ISO 18788

The first edition of the international standard ISO 18788 "Management systems for private security activities. Requirements with guidance for implementation" has been in force since 15.09.2015. The standard specifies requirements and provides guidance for organizations that perform or outsource security-related activities. It contains principles and requirements for a Security Operations Management System (SOMS) and provides a framework for establishing, implementing, enforcing, maintaining and improving these activities.

ISO 18788 provides an opportunity for organisations that carry out security activities and their clients to demonstrate their commitment to obligations under international law, good practice as defined in the Montreux Document, compliance with the principles of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC), the 2011 United Nations Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework and the 2000 Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights.
- establish, implement, maintain and improve SOMS;
- be assessed for compliance with a security management policy;
- demonstrate its ability to consistently provide services that meet the needs of the client and are in compliance with applicable international, national human rights laws and requirements.

The structure of ISO 18788 is according to Annex SL of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), namely:
1: Scope;
2: Normative references;
3: Terms and definitions;
4: Context of the organization;
5: Leadership;
6: Planning;
7: Maintenance;
8: Activities;
9: Performance evaluation;
10: Improvement.

Intended Use - This International Standard is applicable to any type of organization that carries out security activities, particularly in environments where governance or the rule of law may be vulnerable due to human or other naturally induced events. Such organizations, in coordination with clients and government entities, adopt and implement standards necessary to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms are respected in order to protect life and property. They manage the use of tactics, techniques, procedures and equipment, including weapons, in the face of manageable risk.

The purpose of this international standard is to improve and demonstrate consistency and predictability of activities to maintain client safety and security to ensure compliance with human rights, national and international laws, and fundamental freedoms.

Benefits - Private Security Operations (PSOs) play an important role in the protection and maintenance of peace, stability, development and trade efforts in regions where the capacity of social institutions is overwhelmed by human and natural disruptive events. ISO 18788 provides an opportunity to differentiate organizations that can provide services to the highest professional standards in accordance with the needs and rights of stakeholders. 
Protecting the tangible and intangible assets (physical, human and information assets, image and reputation) of companies and their customers is an important task for the viability, profitability and sustainability of any type of organisation (public, private, non-profit). 

The development and implementation of SOMS provides:
- Establishing and maintaining a transparent governance framework to detect, monitor, address, prevent the occurrence or reoccurrence of incidents that have an adverse impact on human rights and fundamental freedoms;
- Identify and manage security risks in accordance with applicable international and national regulations, the strategic and operational objectives of the organisation;
- a framework that protects the safety, security and human rights of internal and external stakeholders, including customers and affected communities;
- conducting comprehensive internal and external risk assessments related to safety, security and human rights risks;
- implementing risk control measures that uphold the rule of law, respect the human rights of stakeholders, protect the interests of the organisation and its clients, and the provision of professional services;
- appropriate and sufficient operational controls, based on identified risk, to improve the health and safety and welfare of those working on behalf of the organisation;
- effective communications and consultation with public and private stakeholders;
- effective screening and training of those working on behalf of organisations;
- that the use of force is applied reasonably where necessary, proportionate and lawful;                             - evaluating the characteristics of the services provided and the achievement of objectives;
- developing and implementing systems to report and investigate allegations of violations of international law, local law or human rights, and mitigate and remedy the effects of adverse or disruptive events.