Handle with Care: Private Security Companies in Timor-Leste

The use of arms by private security personnel poses special challenges for Timor-Leste, where government capacity to appropriately regulate, monitor, and enforce weapons possession  laws  remains  in  question.  If  the  Timorese  government does proceed  to  adopt legislation  allowing  private  security  personnel  to  carry  and  use  firearms,  strong  regulations should be carefully considered, such as strict restrictions on carrying and a prohibition on storing guns at home after hours.

The aims of this paper are to:

• explore what is meant by ‘private security’ and the status of private security personnel;
• provide an overview of the PSCs operating in Timor-Leste;
• analyse efforts to regulate the private security industry at the national and international levels, with a special focus on the access to and use of arms by private security personnel; and
• explore  some  of  the  negative  impacts  of  the  use  of  armed  private  security  in  other countries

Also available in TETUM.