More than half of Ireland's security companies have no quality standards, a new survey said today.
The first national survey by the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) found 53 per cent of companies did not have quality standards such as the ISO 9001.
ISIA president Mr Les McLindon said the survey showed the need for the Private Security Authority, which is due to be established by the end of the year.
"Licensing should rid us of those companies that concern all of us here - companies with few or no standards, little or no training and not being held accountable, with many operating from mobile phone contact only.
We must ensure that licensing rids us of this element that has brought this industry into disrepute time and time again," he said.
The security industry is booming with more than half of all companies established in the last seven years. The ISIA estimate there are 274 companies in the sector but many believe the figure may be up to 800. The industry has a turnover of €350 million per year.
But the security industry, whose 20,000 employees outnumber the gardaí and the defence forces, has been dogged by rogue operators with low standards.
According to the survey most companies employ around 27 security guards but the largest employ up to 900.
Many ISIA members are concerned that rogue operators are undercutting their bids for security contracts by paying employees wages below the minimum rates and cutting corners on safety standards.
Mr Rick Butterworth, director of Carlisle Security, said: "No one is afraid of competition but we all want a level playing field. At the moment the barrier to entry in the security industry is so low. A lot of people are just in it for the money."
The survey revealed that 94 per cent of respondents believed some security companies were giving the industry a bad name. Another 75 per cent believed the industry was poorly regulated compared to other industries.
PA