As a market leader in Latin America, Centurion Security conducts its business in compliance with all international & national laws, associated international guidelines and industry best practices and is internationally certified against the following standards;

ISO 18788:2015; Management system for private security operations
ANSI/ASIS PSC.1-2022; Management System for Quality of Private Security Operations
ISO 9001:2015; Quality Management Systems
Our core values and commitment to honesty, integrity and respect for people underpin all the work we do and are the foundation of our business principles, practices and activities. Our clients demand the highest levels of conformance to respecting human rights and this is reflected throughout Centurion Security‘s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and is evidenced through our accreditation to the above internationally recognised standards.
Centurion Security is committed to operating in a manner that recognizes and supports the Rule of Law, as well as respect for Human Rights and the protection of clients' interests.
The entity is fully committed to fulfilling its responsibilities regarding Human Rights by adhering to the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala and applying the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (2011) in the entity's operations.
The Guiding Principles have achieved broad international consensus as a baseline for all companies regarding the observance of Human Rights, and they are affirmed in four fundamental instruments:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966).
The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (1966).
The International Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (1998).
That is why Centurion Security acknowledges and considers the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, adopted in 2000 by the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, extractive companies, and some non-governmental organizations (ONG).
The entity Centurion Security is also a part of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICOCA), under which the member companies recognize and commit to respecting Human Rights and fulfilling humanitarian responsibilities within their internal policies and business activities, including personnel, clients, suppliers, shareholders, and the local population in the area where services are provided.
This Human Rights Policy of Centurion Security expresses the commitment to respect Human Rights and embodies the understanding and particular importance that such universal standards have for a large-scale security company and its diverse operations in a country where Human Rights are often disrespected. Therefore, the entity establishes expectations of conduct and compliance throughout its organizational structure and departments, employees, and individuals with whom it does business.
The detailed guidelines for staff on how to implement this policy in all personal and labor negotiations are outlined in the internal document "Guidance on Management," which establishes: Human Rights Guidelines of Centurion Security. Together with the internal policy and Human Rights guidelines, they constitute the guiding principles of Centurion Security regarding its employees.
The strategic approach of the entity allows us to respect Human Rights and their application in various areas, as the main foundation is respect for human life.
This recognizes the impact of the entity's purpose regarding security, potentially acknowledging the positive operations and compliance with such protocols for operations within its environment. In this context, the ability to maintain conduct aligned with the guiding principles of Human Rights is put to the test.
In addition to its recognition within the international framework on Human Rights and its voluntary adherence to international instruments relating to corporate responsibility in this area, particularly those concerning private security service providers, Centurion Security understands that it must have an explicit Human Rights policy due to the historical and current sensitivity of these issues in Guatemala.
Indeed, throughout its republican and independent history in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Guatemalan State was characterized by its weak commitment to upholding the fundamental rights of the population, despite these rights being declared in its numerous constitutional texts. This situation worsened during the years of the 36-year internal armed conflict, officially concluded in 1996 with the signing of the peace accords. The same United Nations -UN-, through specialized agencies, documented the nature and magnitude of the massive violations of Human Rights during the war, within which a culture of disrespect for the law, impunity, and denial of fundamental rights took root, reaffirmed by the Political Constitution of the Republic of Guatemala, enacted in 1985 and currently in effect.
Neither the Political Constitution nor the Peace Accords of 1996 could, in themselves, be sufficient to eradicate the culture of violence, impunity, and disrespect for Human Rights. Many of the historical, economic, and social causes that originated or worsened during the armed conflict persisted after 1996, and this was compounded by the difficult process of Guatemala's integration into globalization. As a result, new economic, social, and cultural phenomena emerged that largely explain why the promise of tranquility implicit in the Peace Accords remained unfulfilled.
In the years following the signing of the Peace Accords, the capacity of the State and the corresponding public institutions to guarantee the enforcement of fundamental rights related to security, justice, life, and the integrity of individuals, as well as the preservation of their property and other related constitutional rights, notably deteriorated.
Guatemala has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and official statistics on attacks against property and assets far exceed those of violent deaths. According to estimates from the National Problems Institute of the University of San Carlos, in 2014 the homicide rate was 35.67 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while crimes against property reached 734.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Deducting from the above, the business environment for Centurion Security is complicated: there is a high historical sensitivity regarding the non-observance of Human Rights (in which there are many pending issues, such as discrimination based on ethnic or linguistic reasons, social conflict due to mining activities, and disputes over water resources, among other examples), while at the same time, an atmosphere of insecurity, violence, and disrespect for the law prevails.
Centurión Security recognizes that it can play a positive role in the promotion of Human Rights within its various areas of work. The company can positively contribute to the respect and observance of Human Rights through the range of services offered to protect individuals and property, creating a security environment that allows them to enjoy their constitutional rights.
At the same time, the entity acknowledges that it has the duty to guarantee the rule of law within the services provided to the clients it works with, as well as the suppliers it hires, ensuring fair and appropriate treatment of employees.
How can a security company operating in a country where Human Rights have been systematically violated by the State in the past and are currently often overlooked and disrespected, due to a widespread culture of lawlessness, impunity, and corruption? Therefore, Centurion Security, aware of this historical situation prevailing in Guatemala, aims to educate and promote compliance with the country's legal standards among its employees, with an emphasis on recognizing and respecting the rights and dignity of individuals through feedback exercises and training sessions.
Training and education will help those working for the company to consciously understand and respect the rights to life, physical and moral integrity, freedom, security, due process, privacy, property, inviolability of the home, free movement, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and peaceful assembly, as well as international standards regarding the use of force and International Humanitarian Law.
It is understood that continuous feedback and training are important for working towards the respect of Human Rights. As a security entity, there is a recognition of the need to focus especially on those rights related to the protection of individuals and their property.
The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights are fundamental standards for Centurion Security, which have been implemented in business-related areas, following the guiding principles of the United Nations.
The entity commits to operate in accordance with the guiding principles on "Business and Human Rights", adopted in 2011 under the framework of the UN, through which corporate responsibility regarding Human Rights is defined, particularly to ensure access to effective mechanisms for individuals who have suffered violations of their rights due to the activities conducted by businesses.
Specifically, we embrace the principles summarized in the formula of "protect, respect, and remedy", according to which:
The application of the Guiding Principles in Centurion Security's policy entails the recognition that business activities can, eventually and under certain circumstances, pose risks to the security of individuals or communities, as well as to the enjoyment of human rights. Acknowledging this possibility gives meaning to the triad "protect, respect, and remedy."
In line with the aforementioned guiding principles of the United Nations -UN-, Human Rights will be made an essential and integral part of the entity's activities, services, and business. This commitment will begin with rigorous hiring practices, including comprehensive background checks to verify that no Centurion Security employee has been involved in human rights abuses during or after the Guatemalan civil war.
Actions will be taken while respecting intervention protocols and due process, in order to avoid any violations of Human Rights, as well as to provide appropriate and effective responses, including reparations in accordance with the provisions established by law and in prevention.
Centurion Security commits to including, in the diagnostic studies for the provision of security services, assessments related to the history of compliance with or violations of Human Rights by the actors present in the area, municipality, department, or region, as well as regarding social conflict.
These diagnostic studies will include, at a minimum: a) Identification of security risks; b) Assessment of potential violence; c) Records related to Human Rights; d) Evaluation of the state of law compliance; e) Conflict analysis.
Immediate responsibility for ensuring respect for Human Rights is assumed, a commitment that falls on all personnel at Centurion Security. Members must be familiar with the entity's Human Rights policies and guidelines. They should be able to demonstrate, through their daily conduct, how they avoid the risks of committing abuses against Human Rights.
The management of Centurion Security will actively ensure corporate accountability in complying with this policy and its related guidelines.
14th of june 2024
Centurion Security is a private security company (PSC) based in Guatemala, Central America and provides armed and unarmed security services in complex and sometimes hostile environments. Centurion Security works with its clients to provide these services in a way that protects all of their assets. Our clients, all government agencies, local communities where we operate, our partners and suppliers all expect Centurion Security to operate responsibly and in conformance with the law at an international and national level, as well as adhering to the associated international guidelines on human rights.
Centurion Security‘s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics outlines our commitment to best ethical practices including our commitment to respecting human rights and always seeking to provide conflict sensitive services that seek to develop and maintain a social license to operate.
All private security operations in complex environments carry an elevated risk of encountering human rights issues, Centurion Security is based and operates in a country with a terrible history on human rights violations, and to this day there are still accusations against government agencies and private security companies (PSC's) for violating human rights. Centurion Security seeks to mitigate this risk as effectively as possible by ensuring that the principles outlined within the Centurion Security Code of Conduct and Business Ethics and our internal policy on Human Rights are strictly adhered to and that all personnel are aware of these commitments and understand their absolute importance.
Centurion Security respects all people. This includes our personnel, our clients, the local communities within which we operate and local governments and associations. This is demonstrated in a robust commitment to the UN guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Principles of the UN Global Compact, the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers (ICoCA) (of which Centurion Security is a certified member), the Montreux Document and all applicable local, national and international laws and guidelines. Seeking to recognise and mitigate risks throughout our operations.
Our statement of conformance is coupled with our compliance and application for certification for PSC1, ISO18788 and ISO 9001 as part of our on-going commitment to best practice.
Peter Snell
Executive Director
Centurion Security S.A. Quality Policy
The purpose of the Quality Assurance System is to ensure that the all services provided to our Clients consistently meet or exceed their expectations. The company operates a system that regularly evaluates its processes and Client needs, and has set quantifiable objectives with plans in place to ensure that they are reviewed annually for improvement.
It is the policy of Centurion Security S.A. to maintain, on a continual basis, an effectively managed Quality Assurance System, which will assure that the services supplied conform to the procedures or disciplines of the company, and will therefore ensure that the Clients needs and expectations are fully met.
The management of the company is firmly committed to the systems, procedures and controls included in this manual, and the total participation of all personnel is mandatory.
To achieve and maintain the required level of assurance the Executive Director retains responsibility for the Quality System with the routine operation controlled by the Quality Management Representative and to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met such as Health & Safety at work and the requirements established by the Dirección General de Servicios de Seguridad Privada (DIGESSP).
The company Quality Management Representative cannot be over-ruled on matters of Quality, and in case of differences of opinion on Quality related matters, then such matters should be referred to the Executive Director or his representative for resolution. This policy of Quality Assurance is in place to ensure that the overall organizational objectives of the company are met. The objectives of the Quality Assurance System are:
Achievement of this policy involves all staff, who are individually responsible for the quality of their work, resulting in a continually improving working environment for all. This policy is provided and explained to each employee by the General Manager or the HR Manager as applicable.
Centurion Security is an ethically responsible company that takes matters of grievance and complaints against it very seriously. To that end we employ a grievance mechanism that deals with complaints or suggestions in a prompt and precise manner. The complaints procedure is open to anybody to use and any grievance, complaint or suggestion can be made in English or Spanish. You may file your grievance via email: quejas@centurionsecurity.net. Your grievance will be dealt with by senior management and will be done so discretely and will be covered by the companies Whistleblowing Policy that ensures it will be done so in the strictest confidence and the complainant is protected from the risk of retaliation. You should expect to receive an initial response acknowledging receipt of your grievance within 12 to 24 hours and a full and final response within 10 days of the initial response.
Alternatively, should you prefer to make an anonymous complaint, please feel free to either send a letter to one of our offices or make use of the PBX telephone number stating you wish to file a grievance, you will then be guided through a series of questions as the recipient of the call will fill out the complaints form on your behalf. Any letters should be addressed to the General Manager.