McDowell to meet representatives of security industry today

Minister for Justice Michael McDowell is due to meet representatives of the security industry today to discuss ways to prevent robberies from cash-transit vans.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy is also due to attend the talks, as is the chief executive of the recently established Private Security Authority, the watchdog for the industry.

Today's meeting was prompted by the theft of more than €2.5m from a Brinks Allied van in north Dublin yesterday.

Mr McDowell has blamed the security firm for the raid, saying proper procedures were not followed by the van crew, who had got out of the vehicle to get coffee at a service station.

He has expressed anger that this procedural lapse led to huge material benefit for criminals and has warned that licences could be revoked or suspended if standards among security firms are not improved.