SOUTH AFRICAN INTRUDER DETECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATION

BY-LAW NO. 3

REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ARMED REACTION SERVICE

Amended January 2003

FOREWORD

The purpose of By-Law 3 is to determine a set of minimum standards and requirements pertaining to those members who operate a Reaction Service and who are offering, to members of the public, a valuable and important service of an extremely dangerous nature. In providing such a service the Reaction Service companies are putting themselves and their staff at great risk and it is therefore essential that certain minimum standards are achieved for the protection of both the member company, its Reaction Officers, its clients and members of the public.

With due regard being given to the exigencies of its business and to circumstances beyond its control, the duty requirement of the Reaction Service company is to provide a 24-hour direct armed tactical approach in its mission to minimise the risk of loss, injury or damage caused by burglary or attack, with no warranty or guarantee whatsoever that the said Reaction Service company will succeed in its mission.

It should also be clearly stated and understood by all parties concerned that there can be no guarantee that the said Reaction Service will arrive at the scene within a specific time period.

These are categorised as follows, the requirements of each being dealt with under separate headings:

  1. Premises
  2. Company
  3. Personnel
  4. Reaction Officers
  5. Service/Operation
  6. Geographic areas
  7. Vehicles
  8. Firearms
  9. Training

Training should include all aspects dealt with in the SIRA Reaction Service training course

5.1Firearms

5.2Physical fitness

  1. Despatch base
  2. Construction
  3. Equipment
  4. Operations
  5. Communications
  6. General
  7. Contracts

7.2Insurance

The Reaction Service Company must comply with the Sectoral Determination in relation to Provident Fund Benefits.

Abbreviations:

RSC:Reaction Service Company

RO:Reaction Officer

Act:The Private Security Industry Regulatory Act 56 of 2001

ID:Identity Document

RV:Reaction Vehicle

RSO:Reaction Service Operation

RS:Reaction Service

SIRA:Security Industry Regulatory Authority

  1. PREMISES

1.1The premises from which the RSC operates must comply with local municipal regulations regarding the operation of such a business and proof of this must be made available.

1.2Where domestic premises are used for satellite bases these must provide a dedicated sector for business and operational purpose and must comply with local municipal and health regulations.

1.3A satellite base is a premise where Reaction Vehicles (RV) park when out of service, changeovers take place.

1.4Dispatching of reaction vehicles may not take place from satellite bases.

1.5Caravans may not be used as a base of any sort.

1.6Where domestic premises are used as a dispatch base. See section 1.3 and 1.4

  1. RESPONSE COMPANY

2.1The RSC must be registered, or be a division of a business, registered with the relevant authorities.

2.2The RSC must be registered with the Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA) in terms of the Act.

2.3The RSC letterhead must display the necessary registration numbers as required by the authorities and the SIRA.

2.4The company SIRA registration certificate and the SAIDSA membership certificate must be displayed in the reception area of the premises of the RSC.

  1. PERSONNEL

3.1All partners, directors and employees must be registered individually with the SIRA as specified by the Act.

3.1.1Reaction Officers (RO)

3.1.1.1The RO must provide proof that he is authorised to practice as an RO when prescribed by statute.

3.1.1.2The RO must display proof of identity on his person while on duty or while in uniform. The ID should be in the form of a double sided tag or laminated plastic card and should display the following:-

3.1.1.3Front:-

Name

Photograph

Company name and telephone number

SIRA registration number (personal)

Cards Expiry date

I.D. Number

3.1.2The RO’s company must have documentary proof that he is trained in the use of the weapon he carries on duty.

3.1.4.The RO must comply with the Arms and Ammunition Act 60 of 2001 Section 8 or as amended.

3.1.5.The RO must wear a uniform while on duty together with clear indication of his rank in the form of a badge or suitable insignia.

3.1.6.The RO must be issued with a suitable bullet-resistant vest of approved design to be either worn by him or available to him while on duty.

  1. REACTION OFFICERS EQUIPMENT

4.1While on duty a reaction officer must all times have the following equipment with him:-

4.1.1Firearm

4.1.2Torch

4.1.3Black pen

4.1.4Watch

4.1.5Pocket Book

4.1.6Handcuffs and key

4.1.7Baton and holder

4.1.8Bullet Resistant Vest

4.1.9Response Slips

4.1.10I.D. Card

4.1.11SIRA Card

4.1.12Map of patrol area

4.1.13Rain Coat

4.1.14Drivers Licence

  1. GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

5.1The geographic areas of operation will vary in size due to various factors such as traffic density, road conditions and urban versus rural territory.

5.2All areas must be predetermined and marked on a map, which should be maintained for inspection.

5.3Where reaction times exceed 15 minutes in any area, a log is to be kept of this for not less than 90 days.

5.4Should the reaction times per area for more than 10% of the occurrences per month, be in excess of 15 minutes, the situation should be reviewed and steps taken to overcome the problem.

5.5Accurate records of all occurrences are to be kept for a minimum of ninety (90) days and should be made readily available for inspection at any time by an appointed inspectorate of SAIDSA.

  1. REACTION VEHICLES (RV)

6.1A RV is a vehicle that is solely dedicated to the purpose of responding in a predetermined area to clients.

6.2The RV will be clearly marked with:-

6.2.1The company’s name

6.2.2Logo

6.2.3Telephone number

6.2.4That it is a 24 hour service and be marked as a response vehicle

6.3It is recommended that where a vehicle roof light is used, this must comply with the Road Traffic Ordinance Act.

6.4RV’s shall be permanently fitted with a two-way radio.

6.5It is recommended that every RV be fitted with a GPS tracking device.

6.6RV’s must at all times have sufficient fuel to complete their duties.

6.7The road traffic act must at all times be obeyed.

6.8It is the company’s responsibility to discipline staff members as far as obeying road traffic rules.

6.9RV’s must at all times be in good mechanical condition.

6.10Code 3 vehicles are not permitted as RV’s.

6.11It is recommended that RV’s not be older than three years or exceed 250 000km.

6.12An additional dedicated and fully equipped back-up RV must be available immediately should this become necessary.

6.13Stand-by RV’s must not be less than one per ten (10) RV’s

6.14Stand-by RV’s must be parked at a satellite or dispatch base.

6.15The RV’s must be equipped with an all-purpose SABS approved fire extinguisher and must be available for inspection by a SAIDSA appointed inspectorate at any time.

6.16Spare wheel, jacks and wheel spanners must be available at short notice.

6.17RV’s must be refuelled within its patrol area. Should this not be possible a second vehicle should be sent into the area before the vehicle leaves to refuel.

  1. FIREARMS

7.1The firearm calibre issued to an RO shall not be less than 9mm Parabellum (9x19) or 38 Special (.38) calibre.

7.2There shall be a safe, meeting with the required standards of the Fire Arms Control Act 60 of 2001 as amended, for the safekeeping of firearms, which are not in use together with ammunition stocks.

7.3A firearms register is to be maintained in which all company-owned firearms are registered and the movement thereof is strictly controlled by recording of dates, times, names and signatures of persons taking our or returning firearms.

7.4There shall be a firearms licence for each company-owned firearm.

7.5All firearm licences must be kept in a register in a secure place.

7.6Written authorisation is to be issued, together with the relevant firearm, to the RO and is to be carried by the RO while on duty.

7.7All the above shall be read in conjunction with the Fire Arms Control Act 60 of 2001 and does not supersede any part thereof.

  1. RESPONSE SLIPS

8.1A response slip will be left at a premise every time a RV visits a premise on activation of an alarm.

8.2Response slips will contain the following information:-

8.2.1Date of visit

8.2.2RSC details

8.2.3RO name

8.2.4Address of premises visited

8.2.5Remarks

8.2.6Reason for visit

8.2.7Slip number

8.2.8Time of activation

8.2.9Signature of RO

  1. TRAINING

9.1Initial training shall be carried out in terms of the SIRA requirements as determined by the controlling body.

9.2Regular firearms training shall be carried out in accordance with SIRA requirements.

9.3The firearm qualifications of the RO’s and that of the instructor shall be kept on record and made available for inspection by SAIDSA.

9.4Every RO must qualify with his duty weapon as per SIRA requirements.

9.5It is recommended that RO do first aid and defensive driving courses.

  1. PHYSICAL FITNESS

It is recommended that psychological counselling be done for reaction staff that are involved in a shooting incident or attend to scenes that are of a gruesome or tragic nature.

  1. DISPATCH BASE

11.1Construction

The requirements must meet with those of SAIDSA By-Law 1 for approved Central Stations.

11.2Equipment

All equipment pertaining to rendering of an effective reaction service must meet with the same requirements as those of SAIDSA By-Law 1 for approved Central Stations.

  1. ADMINISTRATION

12.1A register must be maintained and kept up-to-date in the dispatch base containing information on each RO, which may be required in the event of the death or injury of an RO.

12.1.4.Name

12.1.5.I.D. No

12.1.6.Next-of-kin and telephone number

12.1.7.As per 3.1.1.3

  1. COMMUNICATIONS

13.1Communication with the RV must be via two-way radio.

13.2It is recommended that a second means of communication should be used as a back-up for when the RO is away from the RV or if the two-way radio malfunctions or is occupied.

  1. CONTRACTS

14.1A legal contract shall be entered into with the client.

14.2The contract shall not guarantee a specific reaction time.

14.3The contact shall state that the objective of the reaction service (RS) is to minimise the risk of loss, injury or damage by theft, burglary or attack and not to guarantee exclusion of any of the aforementioned.

14.4The contract shall state that testing of response times are strictly prohibited and have an appropriate penalty clause.

14.5Each RO shall have insurance cover in the event of his death or severe injury or permanent disability. The insurance premium shall be borne by the parties in terms of the Provident Fund Rules.

14.6The insurance cover shall be for a minimum of two (2) years’ salary/wages. In terms of the Provident Fund Act.

14.7Every RSC must have adequate public liability insurance.

  1. OPERATIONS

15.1On dispatching a RV to a premises or to a client, as much information as possible must be relayed to the RO as to exactly where the activation has arisen from, and what type of activation was received.

15.2After investigation of activation, a report back must be received from the RO stating where the premises were checked and what was noted on the premises.

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