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PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS WILL need to obtain a licence from the Private Security Authority (PSA), under new rules announced by the Department of Justice.
From 1 November, it will be an offence for PIs to operate without a licence, as will employing an unlicensed PI.
For both offences a person can be fined up to €3,000 or imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both, on summary conviction. A conviction on indictment can lead to imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said the development comes after “two years of development work by the Private Security Authority, including consultation with the industry”.
“During that period, a number of successful prosecutions against Private Investigators have been achieved by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner following investigation into the activities of Private Investigators.
Some of the more undesirable activities and practices of the sector have been highlighted by these investigations and the need for regulation is evident. I am confident that the introduction of these regulations will raise standards in the sector.
In order to obtain a licence a contractor must make an application to the PSA accompanied by the following:
*The licence fee is based on the turnover of the contractor. Where a contractor has no turnover the fee is €1,000. For contractors with a turnover of up to €300,000, the fee is €1,250. Licences are valid for two years.
To date the PSA has licensed contractors in the following sectors: cash-in-transit, event security, door supervisor, security guarding, installer of security equipment, and alarm and CCTV monitoring sectors.
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Cowboys Ted. They’re a bunch of cowboys.
I better stop pointing the telescope at the hot neighbors wife’s window so ;-)
What kind of window is it? I like a good double glazed sash myself.
Also it’s good to know your neighbour is hot, but what’s his wife like?
Typical banana republic, the licence fee is based on turnover? Public Liability insurance is the same, nothing about the risk, just how much money can be screwed from a person trying to make a living.
A thriving Quango with lots room to extract money from businesses and self perpetuate itself…….
Ireland a great little country to do corruption in.
No pleasing some people. I’d reckon this government could cure cancer and some people would have a moan about it..
I was informed that Enda Kenny is a dick. That’s a detective isn’t it?
Does he need a licence?
I’ll check with Mary Lou. I may have misheard!
dont see anything wrong with this.
It’s all about the fee…..just another tax…
Damn.
Damn is right. Look at that face.
Garda vetting?? It’s the Garda that need the vetting !!
Does Any other sector, other than the ‘security sector’ have to pay for the right to work?
I ask because, I’d say 85% of PI’s in Ireland are one man sole trader operations and this is going to kill a lot of them off. What will happen then is the big overseas firms will come in, hoover up the business and bill extortionately for it. You think your insurance premiums are expensive now. Wait and see what will happen to them if that happens. Insurance companies are the biggest user of PI’s in this country.
Everyone in the health sector. Waste disposal employment agencys. There are a few others can’t rememder right now.
Can anyone tell me what does PSA do with all the money they collect in giving g out the licences..??
For companies to get a PSA licence they have to achieve the standards set down by the PSA. That means the company has to employ another company e.g. NSAI or EQA to carry out an audit on the company to ensure their standards meet PSA guidelines. This audit had to be done every 2 years prior to getting the PSA licence adding another grand or so to the company looking to be licenced.
Can this licence be revoked. Will there be a complaints procedure/investigation. What will the standard be to be allowed to obtain a licence. What grounds will justify a licence been revoked. At what point can a complaint be made.
T
You said it Jack.
Nobody likes you Jack Reacher.
Y
Reacher Round maybe.
Can companies still get PI’s still to investigate employers?
And employees?
This is just another tax. The PSA standard deals with mostly with employee screening and business management. The standard doesn’t cover investigative techniques and practices, ethics of an investigation or even require people to have a standard level of training to operate as a PI. This is going to cost the general public as the vast majority of PIs work for insurance companies and who pays insurance companies? We do.
More regulations.
Just what we need
Just another stealth tax. This could have been done without the huge charges. The people doing these jobs are paying enough charges and get nothing in return. F.ucked up government
I wonder if we as the people can investigate the government t any level any more? Is this an eroding of powers of investigation or a “for the people” policy? I’m not sure anymore to be honest. Im not sure more legislation about investigative powers are a good thing though.
I’m fairly uneducated in this field i have to day.
have your say