China has issued its first national standard for the security service industry, titled “Security Service Management System Requirements and Use Guide” (GB/T 42765-2023), which took effect on June 1, 2024. This standard, a modified adoption of ISO 18788: 2015, aims to enhance the management and operational practices of Chinese security service organizations and guide them in international operations. By adopting advanced management techniques, the standard holds significant economic and social implications for the growth of the industry in China. It has been tailored to align with China’s conditions. For Chinese security firms to successfully operate overseas, further alignment with global standards will be necessary to navigate the complex challenges with international security operations.
Dr. CUI Yan, Associate Professor of Gansu University of Political Science and Law, and Dr. ZHOU Zhanggui, Senior Researcher at the Research Center for Non-Traditional Security and Peaceful Development Studies of Zhejiang University, both observers of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers (ICoCA), have analyzed the significance of China’s new national standard for security services. They emphasize that this marks the first time a comprehensive management system has been established for the country’s security services, offering a foundational framework and guidelines for the sector. By integrating advanced, systematic, and scientific management methods, the standard aims to elevate the operational and management levels of Chinese security providers. As a result, the standard does not directly address the complexities of China’s overseas security operations, especially in challenging environments. To ensure its effectiveness on the international stage, it will need to be supplemented and harmonized with global standards in the future.
Background of China Implementing the First National Standard on Security Service
China’s rapid economic expansion following the implementation of the opening-up policy in 1978 led to increased interactions with foreign businesses and a growing demand for security services. As these foreign enterprises sought to establish a presence in China, local security companies began to emerge to meet their needs. In December 1984, China saw the establishment of its first security service company in Shenzhen, a special economic zone, marking the formal beginning of the security service industry in the country.
The formalization of the industry was further solidified in 2009 when the State Council adopted the “Regulations on the Management of Security Services” at its 82nd Executive Meeting. This regulation enacted on January 1, 2010, remains a cornerstone of China’s security service policy, providing the legal framework for industry operations and development.
As China’s economy grew, so did the demand for public security services. According to the Ministry of Public Security, there are currently around 16,000 security service providers and 6.44 million security service employees in China. This rapid growth reflects the increasing reliance on security services in both public and private sectors.
The introduction of the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) in 2013 further complicated the security landscape. As Chinese enterprises and personnel expanded their presence abroad, so did the need for enhanced security services. The number of Chinese institutions and workers stationed overseas surged, accompanied by an uptick in security challenges. The size of China’s overseas security service market is estimated to be $100 billion, but Chinese security service companies have had limited understanding of the international environment and international regulations. This highlighted the urgent need to strengthen their capacity for international compliance and operational standards.
To address these challenges, the General Administration of Market Regulation (State Standards Committee) approved the creation of a national standard for security services. On November 27, 2023, the recommended standard “Management System for Security Operations—Requirements with Guidance for Use” (GB/T 42765-2023) was issued. This new standard, set to be implemented on June 1, 2024, marks a significant step forward in standardizing and professionalizing China’s security service industry. By incorporating advanced management techniques and systematic approaches, it aims to enhance the professionalism of Chinese security service providers and help them navigate both domestic and international security challenges with greater confidence and compliance.
This standard represents China’s first national framework for security service management, designed to enhance the professionalism and internationalization of the industry by adopting advanced, systematic, and scientific management technologies and methods.
I. The Content of China’s First National Standard on Security Service (GB/T 42765-2023)
The standard is divided into 10 chapters: scope, normative reference documents, terms and definitions, organizational environment, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. Implementing this standard will promote a culture of compliance with laws and regulations and respect for legitimate rights and interests among Chinese security service providers. A consistent level of performance can be achieved by developing, designing, documenting, deploying, and evaluating a security service management system that is fit for purpose.
Chapters 1-3 of the standard specify the scope of application, normative reference documents, and terms and definitions. According to the standard, a security service provider or security company refers to a legally established security service company and a unit that recruits security service personnel (3.66). Security operations or security services refer to services provided by security guards dispatched by security service companies in accordance with the security service contract, such as guarding, patrolling, escorting, security inspections, security technology prevention, and security risk assessment. Organizations, enterprises, and institutions recruit personnel to engage in their own unit guard, patrol, and other security work. Property service enterprises recruit personnel to carry out guard, patrol, order maintenance, and other services in the property management area.
Chapters 4-10 of the standard and the appendix clarify the framework and guidelines of the management system, including the organizational environment, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. These chapters elaborate on the elements of the management system related to the implementation and respect for legitimate rights and interests.
Regarding the organizational environment, it is proposed that when designing and implementing the security service management system framework, the organization should consider and understand the requirements of the organization and its internal and external operating environment, the needs and expectations of stakeholders, and determine the scope of the security service management system based on the organization’s size, nature, complexity, and continuous improvement.
In terms of leadership, it is proposed that top management should play a leading role in establishing and implementing the security service management system and continuously improve its effectiveness. This includes making a positive commitment to the realization of policies and objectives, formulating organizational strategic policies and objectives, clarifying organizational posts, responsibilities, and authority, promoting more organic coordination of organizational service processes, and enhancing communication at all levels of the organization to better develop and enhance the ability of the organization and its employees to achieve desired goals.
In terms of planning, various measures should be included in the security services management system to address the mitigation of risks identified in the risk assessment process. When planning a security service management system, the organization should plan measures to deal with these risks according to its environment, the needs and expectations of relevant parties, its policies and objectives, and integrate measures into the security service management system process, implementing and evaluating their effectiveness.
Regarding support, to establish, implement, maintain, and continuously improve the security service management system, the organization shall identify and provide resources, including capabilities, awareness, communication, and documented information, to achieve the organization’s business objectives and expected security service quality objectives. The organization shall document information such as policy and objectives, security service management system, scope and applicability description, and update it regularly.
In terms of operation, the organization shall incorporate measures based on its own code of conduct into daily operations, including operation planning and control, establishment of codes of conduct and ethics, use of defense equipment, authorization of defense equipment, key resources, and quality inspection of security services. This ensures control over business operations and the continuous and effective improvement of security service management.
For performance evaluation, appropriate indicators for the development, implementation, and maintenance of the management system are proposed to help the organization evaluate the realization of the objectives and policies of the security service management system. These indicators include monitoring, measurement and analysis, internal audit, and management review, ensuring the security service management system is continuously and effectively controlled, improved, and upgraded to meet changes.
Regarding improvement, it is proposed that the organization should regularly evaluate and continuously improve the applicability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the security service management system. In the event of non-conformity, the organization shall respond by taking control and corrective measures, eliminating the cause, avoiding recurrence, and, if necessary, consider changing the security service management plan to ensure the continuous operation of the management system.
II. The Significance and Impact of the Implementation of China’s First National Standard on Security Service
The standard has been modified to adopt the ISO standard “Management System for Private Security Operations—Requirements with Guidance for Use” (ISO 18788:2015), which stipulates the basic requirements of the security service management system and provides a framework for risk management. It includes the main contents and requirements for the construction of the management system, such as the security service organizational environment, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement. This national standard establishes China’s security service management system for the first time, providing the industry with a basic framework and reference for security service management. By using advanced, systematic, and scientific management technologies and methods, it aims to improve the security service management level of security providers, which has important economic and social significance for the development of the Chinese security service sector.
Overall, the significance of implementation lies in three aspects. First, it unifies the understanding of all relevant stakeholders and provides a basis for various organizations to declare compliance with the security service management system. Second, it helps standardize the development of the industry and is significant for security practitioners to achieve business and risk management objectives. Third, it provides a reference for China’s security services to meet international demands and better align with international standards.
However, this standard still has some limitations. First, it is a recommended standard for the industry, and the specific implementation and supervision of industry stakeholders are not mandatory. Second, the scope of application is mainly for Chinese security service providers within China, stating it “applies to organizations engaged in security service business that expect to establish, implement, maintain, and continuously improve security service management systems.” Third, although this national standard is modified using ISO 18788:2015 and has some convergence with international standards, there are still notable differences. The main technical differences and their reasons are listed below:
- Chapter 1: The scope of application from ISO 18788 is deleted as it is described from an international perspective, not applicable in China.
- Chapter 3: “Human Rights Risk Analysis” (HRRA) in ISO 18788 was deleted to adapt to China’s context. “Non-lethal force” was replaced by “defense equipment” in accordance with China’s relevant laws and industry status quo. The “level of use of force” in ISO 18788 was deleted, considering relevant laws and industry status in China.
- Chapter 5: Terms related to the observance of UN human rights instruments in ISO 18788, including the Montreux Document (09/2008), the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) (2010), and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011), were deleted in line with the requirements of relevant Chinese laws and regulations and the current situation of the Chinese industry.
- Chapter 7: “Respect for human rights” in ISO 18788 is changed to “respect for legitimate rights,” and the clause on compliance with applicable local and international law, including criminal law, human rights law, and international law, was revised.
- Chapter 8: Compliance with international human rights and customary laws in ISO 18788 was deleted and amended to comply with relevant Chinese laws and regulations. “Force” in ISO 18788 was changed to “defense equipment” to adapt to China’s context. The clauses on the level of use of force, non-lethal force, and lethal force in ISO 18788 were merged into “Principles of use of defense equipment” to adapt to China’s context. The provision on weapons authorization was changed to defense equipment authorization. The clause on the use of force in law enforcement was deleted. The clause on the procurement and management of weapons, dangerous goods, and munitions was deleted due to the strict management of firearms and ammunition in China and in line with relevant Chinese laws and regulations.
III. Conclusion
China’s first national standard for security services (GB/T 42765-2023) represents a significant advancement in standardizing and professionalizing the domestic industry. While primarily designed for domestic applications and not mandatory, the standard serves as a reference point for future integration with global standards, enhancing the international competitiveness of Chinese security providers. As China’s security providers increasingly engage in global operations, further harmonization with international standards will be critical to bridging gaps and ensuring comprehensive coverage for diverse operational contexts.
