Section 19, Intelligence Act, 2002

(1) Subject to this Act, no person shall operate a private security company unless such person holds a licence issued by the ONS. (2) Any person who wishes to operate a private security company shall apply to the ONS for a licence for that purpose. 12 No. 10 National Security and Central Intelligence Act 2002 (3) An application for a licence under this section shall be in such form as the ONS may prescribe and shall be accompanied by— (a) a certificate or other evidence that the applicant has registered a company for the purposes of the application; (b) the financial resources and other equipment, including any arms and ammunition, whether or not licensed under the Arms and Ammunition Act, 1955, intended to be used for the business or operations of the company; (c) the particulars of the applicant and other promoters, directors, and other officers of the company, and (d) such other information as the ONS may require. (4) Upon the receipt of an application under subsection (2), the ONS shall within sixty days of such receipt, decide whether to grant or refuse to grant a licence. (5) In taking a decision under subsection (4), the ONS shall take into account— (a) the adequacy of the resources and the validity of the mode of acquisition of the equipment, including any arms and ammunition to be used in the business or the operations of the company; (b) the character and fitness of the applicant and other promoters, directors or officers of the company to operate the licence, and (c) the public interest. (6) Subject to this Act, where the ONS is satisfied with an application, it shall grant the licence to the applicant subject to such terms and conditions as it may specify, the breach of which terms and conditions shall entitle the ONS to revoke the licence. No. 10 National Security and Central Intelligence Act 2002 13 (7) Where the ONS decides to refuse an application, it shall issue a written statement to the applicant stating the reasons for its decision: Provided that where the applicant is aggrieved by the decision refusing to grant the licence, he may appeal to the Council whose decision shall be final. (8) Any person operating a private security company immediately before the commencement of this Act shall apply for a licence within three months of such commencement and shall cease operations if he has not secured a licence within six months of such commencement: (9) For the purposes of this section, "private security company" means a company providing security services, including armed escort services, to persons, homes, businesses or institutions, whether public or private. [Margin: Other employees of Office of National Security.]