Security Programs

Regulating Private Security in Nova Scotia

The Private Investigators and Private Guards Act was originally enacted in 1972, and was last amended in 1989, to provide a regulated environment for private investigators and private guards in Nova Scotia. While this legislation played an important role in ensuring an accountable private security industry over the past number of years, the current legislation does not reflect the diversification of the private security industry, nor the growing role that private security plays in the overall safety and security of the citizens in Nova Scotia.

The Department of Justice is seeking input from security stakeholders, organizations and the public on how private security in Nova Scotia can be regulated to better reflect the expansion of the industry and the growing need for strengthened accountability measures to enhance the safety and security of the citizens of Nova Scotia. In particular, there is a need for consultation to determine:

• security occupations which should be covered under the legislation;
• the appropriate licensing regime of those occupations;
• minimum training and testing standards;
• and accountability requirements.

The following Discussion Paper examines the above issues and requests your input by receiving submissions on-line no later than FEBRUARY 26, 2007. Please read the Discussion Paper prior to completing the on-line questionnaire.

Discussion Paper

In order to facilitate the Security Programs Office with stakeholder analysis, we request that you please submit your responses to the questionnaire on- line. 

LINK TO ON-LINE SURVEY

We have included a hard copy of the questionnaire at the end of the Discussion Paper that may be used for note taking prior to the completion of the on-line questionnaire. Please forward any written responses, as well as any additional comments, ideas or concerns prior to
February 26, 2007.

Send written submissions to:

Nova Scotia Department Of Justice
Security Programs Office
5151 Terminal Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3J 2L6
1-888-760-5577 or 424-2905
SECPROG@gov.ns.ca