With licensing now in its fourth year, the Private Security Authority – the regulator of private security in the Republic of Ireland – is reviewing the cost of regulation and compliance for licensed contractors.
As the PSA says this review coincides with a sharp change in the economic climate facing all and the authority is conscious of its obligations to minimise the cost of licensing for the industry while continuing to improve standards of security provided. The review will examine the licence fee structure, the cost of auditing and also the ongoing cost of compliance with licensing standards. The review will be undertaken in parallel with an upgrade of IS 999:2004 the
underlying standard for security guarding and door security.
According to the PSA it’s an opportunity to consider the impact of licensing to date and to identify those areas requiring improvement or change. Improvement may be required because standards require clarification, improvement or need to be recast in a different light, the Tipperary-based regulator adds.
While the PSA has much in common with the SIA, the Republic has regulated installers of intruder alarms unlike the UK. In February, the Enforcement team at the PSA had their second successful prosecution of a contractor for providing installer (intruder alarm) services without the required licence.
