• Security sector reform

Security sector reform

This report examines the expansion of private military and security companies (PMSCs), particularly as a result of the occupation of Iraq. The report provides information on the activities of these companies as well as urges the UK government to introduce legislation as a matter of urgency in order to bring PMSCs under democratic control.

The report argues that over the last 10 years PMSCs have moved from the periphery of international toward becoming a ‘normal’ part of the military sector. PMSCs enable governments to cover their tracks and evade accountability; they are usually not accountable to government or the public and so allow governments to avoid legal obstacles. There is often no perceptible difference between regular soldiers and their private support workers involved in protecting convoys or materials. The potential for human rights abuses in such situations in an ever-present threat, and it is nearly impossible to hold PMSC employees to account for their actions.

The report recommends that the UK government undertake the following:

• move towards legislation to control the PMSC sector
• introduce legislation which would outlaw PMSC involvement in all forms of direct combat and combat support
• all other PMSC services must be made subject to individual licensing requirements and open to prior parliamentary and public scrutiny
• strict controls on the ‘revolving door’ to ensure that senior defence or security officials or ministers of state are not allowed to take up any lobbying role for a PMSC for five years after completing their government service
• government department which outsource a service to a PMSC must remain fully responsible for the conduct of that PMSC. Investigations against allegations of human rights abuse by PMSC employees must be accorded the same importance as investigations against members of the armed forces.

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