Case study – MSS Global

In an ever-changing and complex world, the need for impartial assurance that companies are acting ethically has become paramount. MSS Global, an internationally recognised certification body, provides rigorous impartial assurance to the clients of their clients and broader stakeholders that private security companies (PSCs) and supply chains have ethical governance arrangements in place that are followed on the ground. This includes those operating in some of the most challenging environments around the world. With a focus on human rights due diligence and responsible provision of services, and certification to standards such as ISO 18788, ANSI/ASIS PSC-1, and ICoCA certified membership, MSS Global has positioned itself as an international leader in the ethical assurance industry. Here we consider the role that UKAS Accreditation plays in strengthening impartial third-party assurance of ethical, responsible services delivered by PSCs.

The importance of ethical assurance

Operating in high-risk environments, especially countries with instability due to conflict or humanitarian disasters, PSCs are often the ‘enablers’ to post-conflict recovery and humanitarian relief.  Commercial organisations, NGOs and governments alike need the security provided by PSCs to be able to operate safely in such challenging environments.  The PSC also often presents the public face of the organisation it is working for as it is the PSC that routinely interacts with – and often employs – the local community.

The need for security in high-risk environments came to the fore after the 2003 Iraq war, and has increased significantly since then due to the number of countries where the regional and international communities seek to encourage stability and effective governance. The rapid growth in the PSC industry in response to commercial need was not, however, initially matched by regulatory oversight. This resulted in tragic incidents, and negatively impacting the reputation of both the PSCs and their clients (governments and commercial). Recognising the need to address these issues, multi-stakeholder initiatives have been established to develop responsible business, human rights-based standards and support voluntary regulation of the private security sector and its supply chain.

MSS Global, established in 2011, is a certification body that specialises in providing assurance that PSCs and their supply chains have responsible and ethical management systems and apply those systems in practice. Accredited by UKAS as a Certification Body to ISO 17021-1, MSS Global prioritises the competence of its personnel, client confidentiality, and impartial assessment to deliver the highest level of assurance of ethical governance. With capability in the UK, US, and West Africa (as well as many other locations), MSS Global has positioned itself as a leader in the industry, supporting organisations operating worldwide, including in high-risk countries with fragile rule of law.

Certification to ISO 18788 and PSC-1

ISO 18788 is a Security Operations Management System (SOMS) standard that provides an internationally established framework for the responsible management of security operations within a context that respects human rights, including in complex and high-risk environments.  It ‘internationalises’ many of the requirements first laid out in the ANSI/ASIS PSC-1 (a US government sponsored standard). MSS Global, as an accredited certification body, certifies PSCs and their clients to ISO 18788 and PSC-1, ensuring that respect for human rights is enshrined within their business practices. The certification draws from international guidelines, such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals, the Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies, and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. The standard requires that the PSC also apply many of the requirements to its own supply chain – they cannot abdicate responsibility by ‘out-sourcing’.

In addition to ISO 18788, MSS Global also certifies logistics and manufacturing companies to ISO 28000 for supply chain security management. This can be supplemented with the guidance standard, ISO 28007, for companies providing armed security personnel on board commercial shipping (Private Maritime Security Companies). ISO 28007, like ISO 18788, encapsulates human rights risk management expectations.

The accreditation and certification process involves rigorous audits conducted by security and human rights technical experts or auditors with specific competence in human rights. This comprehensive approach ensures that those certified comply with internationally recognised best practices and uphold human rights standards.

Tony Chattin, Managing Director at MSS Global explained that while the security sector they support is complex, it requires auditors with intellectual agility and an understanding of the challenging situations and dilemmas that PSCs and their clients can face – be that in high threat countries, emerging economies, or more benign environments.

“ISO 18788 is great because it is contextually adjustable in practice. It is an enterprise risk management standard which could, with appropriate exclusions, be applied anywhere.”

Despite its flexibility of application, demonstrating conformance to ISO 18788 provides significant challenges, not least that of developing and embedding the systems, processes and cultural norms on the ground. Policies have to be demonstrably implemented to manage the risks of working in complex environments, understanding the potential human rights impacts of PSC activities, and dealing quickly with the problems that arise when things fall outside of this system, in spite of its robustness.

Demonstrable implementation means that the ongoing external audits against the requirement of the ISO standard take place not just at the company’s head office, but also across the project locations where services are physically provided to PSC clients.  The rigour of audit verifies the degree of embedded behavioural norms right out to the locations where potentially impacted communities, and those providing the guarding services (normally low paid local workers), are at a greater risk of human rights abuse.

Impacts and benefits of certification

Certification to ISO 18788 and PSC-1 provides numerous benefits for both PSCs and their clients. For PSCs, certification demonstrates their commitment to ethical governance practices, security risk management, and the respect for human rights. It enhances their reputation and credibility, allowing them to stand out in a competitive market. Clients of certified PSCs gain confidence in the operational practices and reputational assurance of the security services they receive.

MSS Global’s extensive experience of auditing PSCs in over 60 countries worldwide further strengthens the credibility and reliability of their certification process. Their diverse customer base, ranging from major manufacturing corporations to private security companies small and large, reflects the trust placed in MSS Global’s expertise and assurance of ethical conduct.

The role of UKAS accreditation

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) leads the way for these schemes amongst the IAF peer group, so accreditation further validates MSS Global’s competence and impartiality as a Certification Body. UKAS accreditation includes assessors accompanying the CB into some of these most demanding environments to conduct witnessed assessments; and this commitment to assurance helps ensure that MSS Global continue to exemplify the highest standards of assessment and certification, providing confidence to PSCs and their clients.

UKAS ran two pilots in 2011-2013, one maritime and one land-based, to develop and refine the accreditation process for ISO 18788/PSC-1, and ISO 28000/28007.  MSS Global are the only Certification Body accredited to support both of these diverse and challenging sectors.

Commitment to continuous improvement

MSS Global understands and tracks the dynamic nature of the private security sector and the need for continuous improvement. Their commitment to education and guidance is evident in the range of tools and resources they have developed to support their customers to understand and implement internationally recognised best practices.  These include human rights due diligence and anti-bribery toolkits that help ensure the management of security services adds value and addresses potential risks for both the PSCs and their clients.  MSS Global’s active contribution to a number of the ethics related standards development committees further underwrites a strong commitment to ethical governance and responsible business.

 

In a world where societal expectations around ethical practices and human rights are ever-increasing, the role of certification bodies such as MSS Global cannot be understated in helping companies manage their own reputational risk. Through UKAS accreditation, MSS Global ensures that companies adhere to internationally recognised standards, providing assurance of ethical governance and operational confidence. With a commitment to continuous improvement and a focus on human rights due diligence, MSS Global provides an assurance benchmark for the private security industry and those buying their security services, promoting ethical practices and protecting human rights including in complex, fragile and challenging environments.