Kerala SISF to become operational soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Industrial Security Force (SISF), a major initiative by the state police to protect the large industrial establishments and vital installations such as dams and power plants, would become functional within a couple of months. The force is the first of its kind in the nation.The SISF, the proposal for which had been submitted months back, was formed on December 29, 2011.The force, formed on the lines of the CISF,  would have a strength of 500 persons. The force would have all the regulatory powers like the CISF, but prosecuting powers would rest with the police. They can inform the police in times of trouble. Only the recruitment to the force has to be completed.“Private firms can also make use of the service of the force but only under terms and conditions regulated by the  government. The private agencies would have to pay the government to avail of the SISF service,” K Padmakumar, I G South Zone told Express.The state police chief, who is entitled to control the force, has the privilege to recruit persons and fix their age limit. Though SISF is not a part of the general  police establishment, its staff could be taken on deputation from the Police Department.When there is shortage of staff in the police force, ex-service men or retired police men could be appointed temporarily. The government order dated December 29, 2011, says that vital industrial establishments require effective protection especially in the light of security threats at present.“In the last few years, security concerns relating to public spaces and institutions having high degree of public interaction such as dams, banks, hotels have gone up considerably. Even major sports or cultural events are conducted after evaluating security needs. The number of institutions without effective security is many.Deploying armed private security guards at vital institutions and commercial organisations are not desirable. Therefore, it has become essential to constitute a separate force for providing physical institutional  security in the government, public and private sectors to those who are willing and able  enough to pay for such security services,” the order said.Once it starts functioning, the SISF would  replace the private security guards deployed in various industrial establishments.