Over a third of security workers are not vetted

OVER a third of the 22,037 people who are licensed to operate as doormen and private security guards have not undergone any form of Garda background checks.

The body with responsibility for issuing such licences, the Private Security Authority (PSA), has admitted more than 7,400 people who received licences following the presentation of a foreign Criminal Record Certificate underwent no further vetting. These certificates are not checked by gardaí and no contact is made with the authorities that issued them to confirm their accuracy.

A PSA statement said: “Foreign Criminal Record Certificates are required by all applicants who have resided outside of Ireland for a period of six months or more. The certificates are not referred to An Garda Síochána and, once the authority is satisfied as to the authenticity of the certificate and assess any convictions against the authority’s guidelines on convictions, no further checks are carried out.”