100 Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement Private security providers and firearms Where private security workers are permitted to carry firearms, concerns have been expressed about training and proper use, safe and secure storage, leakage into the black market, criminal groups targeting private security personnel in order to steal their firearms by force. Indeed, States should regulate the use of firearms by civilian private security providers (as defined in the UNODC handbook) including:224 • Rules around firearm safety and storage • Appropriate penalties and/or administrative sanctions for offences involving the misuse or unlawful possession of firearms • A definition of unsafe or unwanted firearms • A licensing system, including the licensing of firearm businesses, to ensure that firearms are not distributed to persons convicted of serious crimes or other persons who are prohibited under domestic law from owning or possessing firearms • A record-keeping system for firearms, including a system for the commercial distribution of firearms and a requirement for appropriate marking of firearms at the time of manufacture or import, to assist criminal investigations, discourage theft and ensure that firearms are distributed only to persons who may lawfully own or possess firearms under the domestic legislation In addition, where States contract private security companies to carry out law enforcement functions and permit some civilian private security firms and workers to be armed, they should: • Regulate the use of weapons such as batons, pepper spray and gas, restraint devices and guard dogs, including basic standard operating procedures. • License the companies to own, possess, store and transport firearms. • License individual workers to own, possess, store and transport firearms. • Set standards for company record-keeping in relation to firearms. • Set standards for safe storage of firearms. • Set standards for use of firearms and reporting of all such events to a competent State authority. • Set standards for training in storage, use, maintenance and transport of firearms. Similarly to law enforcement officials, private security personnel should maintain records and report incidents to the competent authorities whenever they use any type of force against another person. Such reports allow for a review of the details of the incident and to track incidents for statistical purposes. 6.3. Control, storage, registration and issuance of instruments of force Control, storage and registration, and issuing of firearms and ammunition, but also of tasers, and rubber and plastic bullets, should be strictly regulated, as provided for in Rule 11 (c) of the BPUFF: 224  UNODC (2014); see also Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, “Human Rights and the regulation of civilian acquisition, possession and use of firearms”, A/HRC/32/21, 2016.