Security firms say regulation has failed to oust ‘cowboys’

MANY security firms believe regulation of the sector has failed to weed out ‘cowboy’ operators, while companies are also unhappy with delays in the garda vetting system, according to a new survey.

Research conducted on behalf of the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) also revealed that one-third of customers who use security firms said they were unaware it was an offence to hire an unlicensed security provider.

The results of two research surveys — focussing on security firms and the customers who hire security — were released yesterday by the ISIA.