Security guards face criminal checks
Criminal checks are to be carried out on security guards to rid the industry of undesirable elements it emerged today.
The Private Security Authority, which was established last October, is to begin the checks after it completes the licensing of the 1,500 companies working in the sector.
“There will be licensing of individuals who will be required to submit to criminality checks and also to prove certification of FETAC-approved training,” said chief executive Geraldine Larkin.
There are around 20,000 people working in the private security industry but many have been hired at low cost and without any checks on their previous career history.
However Ms Larkin said the PSA would not simply be weeding out anyone would had ever committed a criminal offence.
“There are a lot of issues that come into play in terms of the length of time since the person committed the offence, the seriousness of the offence and the relevance of the offence to the work they are actually doing,” she said.
The Irish Security Industry Association said it welcomed the PSA’s decision to introduce stringent checks. Executive director Barry Brady said he was aware of cases where convicted criminals had been hired to guard business premises.
“You have no idea what they are doing when you are at home asleep at night and they are protecting your property. I wouldn’t sleep too well,” he said.
The security industry has faced criticism for a lack of adequate standards in the wake of a series of armed robberies on cash-in-transit vans in recent months.
Garda commissioner Noel Conroy, who opens the security expo conference at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, said it was important that standards and trust be prioritised.
He added that he was satisfied that the industry would be able to comply with the four-months deadline for improvements laid down by Justice Minister Michael McDowell at a meeting last week.
“I’ve no doubt that what was said at that meeting that whatever implementation has to be brought about will be brought about,” he said.
Mr Conroy said there were teams of detectives investigating the recent armed robberies.
“I’m very pleased with the progress that has been made to date. We would know the perpetrators of most of these crimes and criminal acts,” he said.
