What is the Private Security Authority? The Private Security Authority (PSA), which was established
under the Private Security
Services Act, 2004, is the statutory body with responsibility for
regulating and licensing the Irish private security industry. The PSA is
charged with introducing, controlling and managing a comprehensive licensing
system. The key responsibilities of the Authority are to control and supervise
people providing security services with the core objective of improving and
maintaining standards in the provision of these services. |
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How are security services defined? The legislation identifies people providing a security
service as including security guards, door supervisors, suppliers and
installers of security equipment, private investigators, security consultants,
cash in transit, locksmiths and suppliers and installers of safes. |
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What types of licences does the PSA issue? The Private Security Authority issues two types of
licences: Private Security Service Contractors
Licence (applies to companies, partnerships and sole traders providing
security services) Private Security Service
Employee Licence
Each licence identifies the
sector(s) of the private security industry in which the licensee is authorised
to operate and is valid for two years. |
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What are the implications of the Act for security providers and consumers of security services The legislation is very clear in that it covers persons who provide a
security service for remuneration. It is an offence under the Act for a
security company or a person working in the industry to provide, or present
themselves to provide, a security service without a licence, once the 'critical
date' for a sector has passsed (the critical date is the date from which
licensing becomes mandatory for any given sector(s)). Similarly, it is an
offence to employ an unlicensed security operator beyond critical dates.
The penalties for these offences are a €3,000 fine or imprisonment for
up to 12 months or both if convicted on a summary offence, or imprisonment of
up to 5 years and a fine if convicted on indictment. Consumers should
check with the PSA to see if the person or company they wish to employ is
licensed by the PSA. They can do this by checking by the PSA licence register.
The register is updated on a weekly basis. |
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How is licensing progressing? Licenses became mandatory for contractors providing Security
Guarding and Door Supervisor services on 1 April 2006. Over 300 licences have
issued in these sectors to date. Licensing for Intruder
Alarm Installers and Alarm Receiving Centres became mandatory on 1 August 2006.
Over 470 licences have issued in these sectors. Licensing
of Protected Forms Of Transport (Cash-in-Transit) commenced on the 1st December
2008 Licensing for other sectors will be introduced on a
phased basis. Employees working in the Door Supervisor
and Security Guarding sectors required a licence from the 1st April 2007. To
date over 26,000 licences have issued For detailed information on licensing please refer to the Licensing
Information tab on the left of this page |
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Are public servants, including Gardai and Defence Forces personnel exempted under the legislation? Yes, but only in the performance of their official
duties. Section 3 of the Private Security Services Act 2004 exempts
the following persons from the main provisions of the Act "while
carrying out the duties of his or her office or employment",
only: - a member of An Garda Síochána
- a member
of the Defence Forces
- a member of a company's harbour police within the
meaning of section 54 of the Harbours Act 1996
- an authorised officer or
authorised person, within the meaning of the Air Navigation and Transport Acts
1936 to 1998
- an officer or employee of a Government department or State
agency
- a person employed as an apprentice by a person providing a
security service
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Can I use the PSA logo on my promotional material? Use of the Private Security Authority logo for promotional purposes by
companies who have obtained a private security services licence is not
permitted. Licensed holders may advertise the fact that they are
licensed by the Private Security Authority by using "Licensed by the
PSA" or "PSA Licence Number......." notation.
Licensed companies are not "Members of the
PSA" and should not be so referenced on advertising/promotional
material. Under Section 37 of the Private Security Services Act 2004, an
unlicensed security provider providing a licensable security service may not
advertise the provision of such a security service. Any such false advertising
should be notified to the PSA via our online reporting facility
(click here to report). |
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How will the PSA enforce licensing? The legislation establishing the Private Security Authority
creates a number of criminal offences for breach of the legislation. The main
offences relate to the provision and use of unlicensed security services. The
PSA will set dates (critical dates) beyond which it will be an offence for a
security company or an employee to operate or work without a licence. It will
also be an offence to employ an unlicensed company from that date. These dates
will be announced well in advance. A person convicted of such an offence is
liable to a fine or imprisonment for up to 5 years. |
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