The Czech Railway Administration (SŽ) has announced that it will gradually replace private security agencies at selected large railway stations with its own security service from the middle of the year. The move aims to unify the quality of staff across stations and reduce costs by employing modern technologies. The new protection service will be responsible for ensuring the safety of passengers and helping them in routine activities such as boarding or alighting from trains. The uniformed staff will receive specialized training in various types of crises and emergencies, as well as partial powers related to security searches or the identification of people. They will not be armed, but they will be required to master the tactics necessary to defend against potential aggressors and make greater use of CCTV.

SŽ officials expect the new service to employ around 150 people and gradually replace private units. While the move will allow the state organization to reduce the cost of providing security at railway stations and critical infrastructure locations, SŽ has not specified how much the costs will be diminished, especially given minimum wage requirements and inflation.

The current private security agencies have been criticized for the different quality of staff across different stations, as well as the high turnover of employees. The Railway Administration hopes that its new security service will offer better quality and continuity of service. However, to obtain additional powers related to security searches and identification of people, laws will have to be changed.

In the past, railway buildings were guarded by the railway police, which specialized in public order, the protection of people, and the detection of crimes and offenses committed in railway transport. However, these officers were disbanded into district departments in July 2012, and private security agencies took over their activities. While fears of increased crime did not materialize then, recent security incidents at railway stations have raised concerns about the need for improved railway security.

The extension of powers for the new protection service is related to security searches and identification of people. The new service seeks to ensure the safety of passengers and prevent potential aggressors from causing harm. The use of modern technologies such as CCTV will also help to enhance security measures.

In conclusion, the Railway Administration’s plan to replace private security agencies with its own security service aims to unify the quality of staff across stations and reduce costs while ensuring the safety of passengers. The uniformed staff will receive specialized training in various types of crises and emergencies and have partial powers related to security searches and the identification of people. While this will be a gradual process, the new protection service aims to offer better quality and continuity of service to passengers.

Article by Prague Forum