The NGO Public Safety Instance Monitoring and Support, which monitors the country's security policies, is concerned by the situation.

Veronica Godoy, delegate of the NGO, said the figures place Guatemala as the country with the greatest disparity between private security guards and state police.

"According to the Ministry of the Interior’s registration, updated in October, there are 41,000 private security agents operating for 149 authorized companies, while about 80,000 are working without authorization.

The director in charge of the Control of Private Security Companies portfolio, Rafael Donis, recognizes that some companies operate without a license. Studies of civil organizations indicate that for each legal company that operates, there is one operating illegally", states an article from AFP.

Source: univision.com

More on this topic

Concern About Rising Crime of Extortion in Guatemala

February 2013

Employers indicate that the cost of paying extortion fees on productive or commercial activities, can amount to up to 1% of sales.

S21.com.gt reports that "The country's industrialists have declared taken their concerns to the Minister of the Interior where they reported being victims of extortion and theft and a killing spree that is maintaining a 'climate of anxiety' in the country, said Javier Zepeda, president of the Chamber of Industry (CIG by its initials in Spanish). "

New Regulation for Security Companies in Guatemala

August 2012

Starting in September, a new regulation will take effect which among other thing, establishes mandatory certification of the company by the Ministry of Interior.

Companies that do not have such certification may be charged with unlawful delivery of service, with a punishment of between 6 and 12 years in prison and a fine of Q100 thousand ($12,652 at current exchange rates).

Business Benefits of Insecurity

August 2011

The prevailing violence and crime in Guatemala has led to an increase in the supply of services and products to provide security.

There are currently 150 security companies, employing about 120,000 people offering services such as surveillance and custodial care among other things.

Guatemala: New Rules for Security Firms

November 2010

The new law establishes requirements for recruitment and requires companies to provide employee benefits.

It creates the General Department of Private Security Services under the Ministry of Interior, who will be responsible for overseeing the companies.

Sigloxxi.com details the contents of the new law: