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By Kimone Witter
Changes are coming to the types of vehicles used to transport cash in response to the recent spate of attacks on Beryllium courier vehicles.
National Security Minister Dr. Horace Chang says, effective immediately, the government has implemented crucial policy and regulatory changes to the Private Security Regulation Authority Act.
Dr. Chang says the response is intended to safeguard the assets of workers and small businesses and ensure that cash management or transfer services operate efficiently and safely.
A meeting was held Tuesday involving the High Command of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and representatives of the private security industry to discuss a strategic and immediate response to the most recent attacks.
Speaking at Wednesday's post-Cabinet media briefing, Dr. Chang outlined the plans agreed on to strengthen existing operational standards within the private security sector.
He said over the medium term, the government will be accelerating the requisite amendment to the Private Security Regulation Authority Regulations to allow for specialised training and certification of security guards, given the increased threat environment.
Other plans include the use of 'hard-skin' or armoured vehicles for cash delivery, equipping cash courier vehicles with cameras to increase awareness, and installing panic buttons in these vehicles.
Additionally, he said there will be "more robost communication" between private security companies and the Jamaica Constabulary Force for real time support and response, as well as the appointment of a special multidisciplinary investigation team to focus on the criminal entities that have been targeting ABMs and cash transit vehicles.
Dr. Chang said he will meet with representatives from the banking sector in the coming days to discuss additional remedies, including strategic placement of Automated Banking Machines.
He noted that with approximately 2.7 million transactions per month, which represents the movement of billions of dollars in the economy, these attacks need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
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