Guatemala Constitutional Court weakens private security oversight

Guatemala’s Constitutional Court (CC) has issued a provisional suspension of nine provisions within the regulations governing private security services. This decision follows a legal challenge brought by Staff de Seguridad Gevas, Sociedad Anónima (GEVAS).

The suspension affects articles related to the supervision and oversight powers of the General Directorate of Private Security Services (DIGESSP). As a result, the regulatory body has lost specific mechanisms used to verify company compliance. These tools previously allowed the DIGESSP to cross-reference information regarding social security payments through the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS), ammunition purchases, vehicle usage, billing, and accounting records.

While the general regulations for private security companies remain in effect and the ruling is not yet a final decision on constitutionality, the suspension limits the ability of authorities to immediately demand documentation or verify the accuracy of information provided by security firms during inspections.