Union warning over cash transit rules

REGULATIONS launched yesterday to safeguard security workers involved in the movement of money must be in place by May or cash-in-transit staff will boycott companies.

Following a spate of ‘tiger kidnappings’ which left bank staff traumatised, the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) yesterday pledged new regulations would ensure the safer transit and control of cash. But trade union representatives warned that if health and safety measures to protect employees were still outstanding in two months time, staff will down tools.

SIPTU has 2,850 members in the security services.

SIPTU branch organiser Kevin McMahon warned: “Over the next two to three months, if clients fail to put in safety procedures for the delivery of cash and parking for cash in transit vehicles, our members will refuse to provide services to those customers. The workers would withdraw services from locations they deem unsafe.”

New standards released yesterday mean increased screening of employees, tracking of vehicles, closed circuit TV cameras as well as health and safety for cash-in-transit staff.

Employees must not only provide birth certificates and full CVs but also details of any motoring offences, prosecutions, as well as periods lived abroad or in unemployment. New staff will attend 30-hour courses to train against robbers attacking vans and cash movements. Workers must also sign up to a code of conduct including keeping information confidential as well as being “scrupulous” with keys and money.

Gardaí should also keep cash-in-transit employers up to date about “perceived criminal threats” to staff within the locale, according to the standards. Parking areas near bank machines and drop points must be assessed and using electronic triggers, such as dye ‘bombs’, to make cash useless after a theft are advised.

The Private Security Association is currently licensing cash-in-transit companies and will consider their compliance with the new security measures.

Chief executive Geraldine Larkin said it was also necessary to keep ahead of criminals and new technology emerging.

Launching the standards, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said gardaí would match resources protecting the transit of cash and staff.

“If we can reduce the risk of movement of money, I think we will have less crime, less problems and less worries.”

He said all the suspects in a recent tiger kidnapping where a family were taken hostage from their home were known to gardaí.

Masked raiders threatened to shoot a son of assistant bank manager, Gerry Smith. After he collected €500,000 in cash for raiders from his branch, as ordered, his wife Margaret was found locked in an abandoned BMW while their youngest son Conor had been bundled into the vehicle’s boot.

Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecution.