Bouncer law set to root out ‘cowboys’ in industry

LEGISLATION aimed at rooting out dodgy operators within the private security industry finally completed its passage through the Dáil yesterday, three years and two months after the bill was first published.

The Private Security Services Bill setting up an authority to police the industry is expected to be signed in to law within the next month.

Representatives welcomed the imminent introduction of the "much-needed and vitally important legislation".

Under the new law, all workers and companies within the security industry, including bouncers, will have to be licensed by the authority.

It addresses long-standing concerns over so-called "cowboys", including some with common criminal or paramilitary links.

All licensees, who will have to prominently display registration numbers, will have to notify the authority of any criminal convictions and can have their licensees revoked if the authority upholds complaints against them.

The Irish Security Industry Association said it expected this "crucially important legislation" to be enacted before Easter.

Les McLindon, ISIA president, said: "The security industry employs 12,000 people and has a turnover of over €350 million annually and yet it has been totally unregulated.

"When the Private Security Bill is enacted, security companies will require a licence to operate and this should improve standards within the industry.

"This legislation presents an opportunity to rid the industry of elements who are unvetted, untrained and a risk to their clients and the industry. For several years, the ISIA has advocated the need for comprehensive and effective legislation.

"The security industry now employs more people than either the army or the gardaí and yet there is no regulation," he said.

"The industry has a massive range in standards from top to bottom and this is totally unacceptable.

"The ISIA has introduced an internationally recognised standards organisation, SGS Yarsley, to certify standards for member companies while there are other companies in the marketplace with no training, no structure and the entire operation being conducted from a mobile phone," he said.

Mr McLindon said the ISIA is hopeful the bill will "make it more difficult for 'cowboys' to operate within the system".