Knowledge is Power: How Data Protection Rules Impact on the Security Industry

Knowledge is Power: How Data Protection Rules Impact on the Security Industry

Oisín Tobin, Senior Associate, Mason Hayes & Curran

Information can be a key security asset. However, it can also give rise to legal challenges, particularly under data protection law. This article considers some of the recent developments in this space.

Background Screening

Many multinational companies based in Ireland seek to ensure effective internal security by conducting background screening of potential employees.

While such background screening is common in the US, it can give rise to some challenges in Ireland.  The lack of a centralised and publicly available criminal record check function in Ireland (save for limited circumstances where Garda vetting is possible) can lead to employers finding novel methods of screening prospective employees.

The Data Protection Commissioner (“DPC”) has, in the past, criticised certain background screening practices. Given the lack of a criminal record check function in Ireland, some employers have taken to requiring that candidates make a “subject access request” to the Gardaí so as to take up a copy of their police file (if any) and then provide that to the prospective employer. While this practice is not explicitly prohibited by data protection law (since the specific section outlawing this practice has never gone into force) the DPC has suggested that it is incompatible with the general data protection principles and is consequently unlawful.  

Engagement of Investigators

The use of private investigators to look into the affairs of certain individuals, often in the context of a business or financial dispute, has recently come under scrutiny by the DPC. Care needs to be taken to ensure that such investigations, or other surveillance, is conducted lawfully and does not infringe the privacy and data protection rights of the person under investigation.

The DPC is applying a zero-tolerance approach to private investigators that breach data protection laws. In the past few years there have been a number of successful prosecutions against insurance companies that used investigators to obtain non-public social welfare information. Additionally, the impending prosecution of Michael Gaynor, a private investigator from Kildare, for alleged breaches of data protection laws is evidence of the willingness of the DPC to take an aggressive approach when dealing with private investigators

All contracts between an investigator and their client need to contain certain provisions dealing with the security of the information obtained by the investigator. Additionally, an investigator needs to consider the period for which they can retain their file following the conclusion of the investigation.

Confidentiality

The contents of private investigator’s reports can be commercially sensitive and one is unlikely to want to share such reports with the person under investigation. However, we have seen an increasing trend of individuals making “subject access requests” against clients who commission such reports (particularly financial institutions). 

In Case Study 13 of the 2011 DPC Annual Report, the DPC responded to a complaint by a former employee of HSG Zander Ireland Ltd (“HSG”). In this case HSG refused to disclose a security report compiled by a private investigator for HSG, citing litigation privilege. However, following correspondence with the DPC on this matter, HSG decided to release the report to the former employee.

This case is indicative of the tough line taken by the DPC on this point. The DPC has directed that, as a general principle, where a subject access request is made, the contents of investigators’ reports should be disclosed to the person under investigation. This state of affairs needs to be considered and addressed by investigators as the reports they prepare into incidents and individuals may very well need to be turned over to the person under investigation.

CCTV

Remote surveillance plays a key role in ensuring the security of assets and employees. However, to the extent that identifiable individuals appear in CCTV images, those images may be “personal data” and protected by the Data Protection Acts. Consequently, security professionals need to have regard to data protection considerations when designing and operating CCTV surveillance systems.

The transparency principle in the Data Protection Acts requires that the purpose of CCTV surveillance be disclosed to employees. In particular, if cameras are being used for staff monitoring, this fact must be drawn to the employees’ attention. Similarly, hidden cameras should generally not be used unless they are necessary to actively investigate potential criminal wrongdoing. Employers should also bear in mind that, as CCTV images can constitute personal data, it may be necessary for such footage to be handed over in response to a subject access request. The use of CCTV footage for disciplinary purposes can be a fraught topic. Misuse of such images can potentially derail disciplinary proceedings.

In Case Study 10 of the 2008 DPC Annual Report, an employer used CCTV to monitor its employees’ workplace attendance, and sought to use such evidence to justify disciplinary proceedings. The employees were never informed that the cameras would be used for staff monitoring. The DPC intervened and the employer had to drop the disciplinary proceedings.

It is vital that an employer intending to use CCTV footage for staff monitoring informs its staff of this intention. While such an announcement may give rise to a complaint, particularly by workers’ representatives, concealing the intention is self-defeating. If an employer is not upfront, not only may they encounter grave difficulties in using any CCTV footage in disciplinary proceedings, but also they may, by engaging in unfair processing, find themselves to be in breach of the Data Protection Acts.

General Data Protection Regulation

A new European Regulation, the “General Data Protection Regulation”, is currently being debated in Brussels. This new Regulation is likely to harden significantly existing rules around data protection in a manner which is liable to impact on the security industry in Ireland. These new rules include strengthening the “right to be forgotten”. Perhaps most importantly, the Regulation significantly increases the fines that can be levied for breaches of data protection law: the regulation envisages fines of up to 5% of global turnover for many infractions. This increases the risk to the security industry posed by non-compliance in this space.

In short, the restrictions imposed by data protection law are apt to impact upon operators in the security industry in a variety of ways. Companies in the sector should endeavour to keep abreast of developments in this space, and should endeavour to ensure that their operations are in line with the Data Protection Acts. Failure to do so may lead to enforcement action by the DPC.

ISIA Awards 2014

The Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) hosted the ISIA Awards on Saturday 1st November at the Powerscourt Hotel.  The awards were attended by over 230 individuals from the private security industry and senior management from a variety of industries.  Also in attendance were members of the Private Security Authority, An Garda Síochána and His Excellency, Dominick Chilcott, British Ambassador to Ireland.  The MC on the night was Sinead Desmond of TV3. 

As pointed out by ISIA President, Sheenagh McCullagh “The ISIA Awards gives us an opportunity to celebrate our industry leaders and their people”.  McCullagh thanked all those members “who came to the event to celebrate their employees success” and she paid tribute to all those who submitted nominations this year.  “It is evidence of ISIA member’s dedication to excellence, that they take the time to consider those individuals and teams that help make their company a leader in the security industry”.  There were ten awards presented on the night. 

The Premier Award

The Premier Award, sponsored by Noonan, was this year bestowed upon Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the contribution that her visit in 2011 and the reciprocal state visit by President Michael D. Higgins to the UK have made to solidify the new era of peace within which we now live.  The award was accepted on her behalf by His Excellency, Dominick Chilcott, British Ambassador to Ireland.  The Ambassador addressed the members of the ISIA and emphasised that he was ‘very proud to collect the award on Her Majesty’s behalf’.  His Excellency finished his speech with the words of Queen Elizabeth spoken during the State Visit of President Michael D. Higgins to the United Kingdom.  “My visit to Ireland and your visit this week, Mr President, show that we are walking together towards a brighter, more settled future. We will remember our past, but we shall no longer allow our past to ensnare our future. This is the greatest gift we can give to succeeding generations."

The Courage Award

This year’s Courage Award was presented to Mark Pollock of the Mark Pollock Trust and was sponsored by G4S.  Pollock was unbroken by blindness in 1998 and went to complete numerous ultra-endurance challenges.  In 2010 Pollock was then left paralysed after falling from a second story window.  Through the Mark Pollock Trust, he is now on a mission to find and connect people around the world to fast track a cure for paralysis.  The President of the ISIA, Sheenagh McCullagh said, ‘Mark is such an incredible man and an incredibly worthy recipient of the courage award.  It was an honour to be able to present it to him’. 

Security Officer of the Year

The award for Security Officer of the Year was presented to Jonathan Waters of Synergy Security Solutions and was sponsored by Arantico.  Waters was presented this award for the exceptional service and outstanding contribution he makes as a store detective at Boots Ireland.  There were also four merit award recipients on the night; Paul Bridgeman, Synergy Security Solutions; Robert Delaney, Synergy Security Solutions; Darragh Lawlor, NOONAN and Micheál Moylan, G4S.

Security Supervisor of the Year

The award for Security Supervisor of the Year was presented to Terence Murphy, Synergy Security Solutions, for the outstanding work he carries out at a multi-national cork based technology company where he supervises a team of officers.  There were three merit award recipients on the night; Adrian Duffy, Synergy Security Solutions; Vitalijus Durkovas, G4S and Warren Humphrey’s, G4S.  This award was sponsored by JW Balfour. 

Event Security Person of the Year

The winner of the Event Security Person of the Year award, sponsored by Hytera and RSP, was Derek O’Rourke, Pulse Security Management, who was specifically nominated for the work he carries out as an Event Security Supervisor at the Aviva Stadium.  Trevor Goode of Brinks Ireland was presented with a merit award for the event security work he carries out for ESB and Croke Park. 

Electronic Security Technician of the Year

The award for Electronic Security Technician of the Year, sponsored by IC Realtime, was presented to Cormac Sullivan of Brinks Ireland who works with a variety of their key clients.  There were three merit award recipients on the night; John Berkery and Billy Hills of Stanley Security and Adrian Jones of MTS Security.

Electronic Security Supervisor of the Year

The award for Electronic Security Supervisor of the Year was presented to Martin Mills of MTS Security who is their Support Desk Supervisor.  There were three merit award recipients on the night; Phil Ledwith and Darren McCormack of G4S and Austin O’Sullivan of Brinks Ireland. 

Innovation in Security

There were four finalists selected for this award; Action Security and Alarm Control 24, All Security Mobile Shredding, Brinks in Partnership with Arantico, and Stanley Security.  .  The award was sponsored by Bosch and the winner was Action Security and Alarm Control 24.  “The submission was based on their development of a nationwide radio network for the monitoring of security systems”, stated Sarah O’Donnell, Communications Director, ISIA.  O’Donnell added “it was clear from the selection process that not only with this development, but in general, innovation is part of the day to day culture of Action Security and Alarm Control 24”. 

ISIA Locksmith of the Year

A customer’s choice award, clients of ISIA members were invited to complete a survey and provide feedback on their locksmith of choice.  Survey respondents were asked to rate their locksmith in terms of customer service, quality of work and technical knowledge.  There were three finalists; Crothers Security, Fogarty Lock and Safe and J. Williams.  The overall winner of this year’s ISIA Locksmith of the Year award was J. Williams. 

Community Contribution Award

Earlier this year Darragh Lawlor of NOONAN played a part in saving his Uncle’s life, who had a heart attack at Ladbrokes in Swords.  Crucial to Lawlor being able to assist with this was a defibrillator held at the Pavilions Shopping Centre where Lawlor is assigned as a Security Officer.  What Lawlor did next was beyond anyone’s expectations.  He recognised how critical the defibrillator had been in saving his uncle’s life and recognised the lack of other defibrillators in Swords.  He set up a Facebook page to raise awareness and campaign to get a Defibrillator for the main street of Swords.  Through his efforts he exceeded his initial goal to get one defibrillator on Swords Main street, but managed to ensure that two were placed in different locations with 24/7 access.  He also arranged for individuals to be trained in the use of the defibrillators.  Lawlor’s efforts not only ensured that his Uncle’s life was saved, but will have the potential to save more lives in the future.  Darragh Lawlor is not only a hero to his family, but a hero to the community of Swords and all who visit there. 

Thinking Holidays? Think Security.

The sun is shining and there is a good chance many of you are heading away for the weekend, the week or starting to think about your holiday plans.  However, when planning a holiday we should also consider the security of our home while away. Here are the top 10 things you should consider when going away:

1. Ensure you have an alarm system installed by a PSA licensed installer.  Ideally this alarm should be monitored to ensure there is a response in your absence. 
2. Ensure your key holders know of your plans to be away from home and that they will be in a position to respond should it become necessary.
3. Notify a neighbour you trust that you will be away so that they are more likely to be aware of unusual activity near your property. 
4. External lighting should be considered.  A sensor light on approach to access points to your home may be enough to deter a potential burglar.
5.  Internal lighting.  Having timers on internal lights may also be a good deterrent, making it less obvious that the home is empty for an extended period of time. 
6. Doors should be fitted with anti-snap locks making it more difficult for anyone to gain access to your home in the first place. 
7. Consideration should be given to upgrading any windows and doors which may be particularly vulnerable due to their design.  There are a wide range of products available which will allow you to upgrade locks, install security grilles or for glazing reinforcement. 
8. Don’t leave car keys or other valuable gadgets (tablets, laptops, iPods) within view or in locations that are easily accessible.  Your car is very often the most desirable asset that a burglar can access as a result of breaking into your home.  Consideration should be given to fitting a home safe. 
9. CCTV is becoming a very popular security option with costs coming down and technology improving.  This provides the option to login remotely and monitor security at your home.  Make sure your CCTV system is installed by a PSA licensed installer. 
10. Make sure you do a security check before you go away.  Lock away tools and ladders.  Always ensure that there will not be a build-up of post or deliveries in your absence.  Make sure that all of your electronic security is functioning and has been properly maintained. 

To check that your security provider holds a license or to find licensed security service providers, visit the Private Security Authority’s website www.psa.ogv.ie or contact the Irish Security Industry Association Tel: 01-4847206 or www.isia.ie. 

For assistance with identifying the right security provider for your needs please use the find a supplier section of the ISIA website.  

About the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA)

The ISIA was established in 1972 and represents security companies across eight divisions of private security.  The members of the ISIA are representative of approximately 70 per cent of both the turnover and the employees in the industry.  The ISIA represents over 90 per cent of the cash-in-transit industry.  

New Standard for CCTV & Alarm Monitoring

The new standard for the licensing of CCTV Monitoring Centres and Alarm Monitoring Centres entitled "PSA Licensing Requirements - CCTV Monitoring and Alarm Monitoring Centres (PSA 33:2014)" has now been published.  

Read the full story here.  

ISIA Re-elects First Female President

The members of the Irish Security Industry Association re-elected its first female President, Sheenagh McCullagh, for a second year at the ISIA's AGM earlier this month.  Alan Durnan, of Brinks Ireland, was elected as Vice President.

Read the full story here.

Secure Data Destruction Seminar

Secure Data Destruction Seminar 

To launch the introduction of its Secure Data Destruction Division, the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) will be holding a seminar on the 26^th March at 10am in the Fitzwilliam Hotel on the topic of handling information destruction securely and the associated data protection challenges. 

Risks

Entrusting a supplier with sensitive or personal information to be destroyed is a serious decision.  There are numerous concerns associated with the holding of data in your own organisation, never mind the risks when handing over the data, for which you are responsible, to a third party.

During this seminar we will explore the current data protection landscape, the risks and challenges that need to be considered when implementing a best practice data protection policy and finally what you should expect from your disposal partner of choice. 

Managing Data Destruction

Following in the footsteps of its associate, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the ISIA has recently introduced a Secure Data Destruction Division.  The Chairman of the division Richard McIlwaine-Biggins stated that, “by bringing together key players in the industry we plan to raise standards in this sector, protect end users of information destruction services and ultimately protect the individuals and businesses whose personal and sensitive information may be contained in hard or soft copy”.

Seminar Details

Date: Wednesday 26^th March 2014

Venue: Fitzwilliam Hotel, Dublin 2

Time: 10:00 – 12:00

Speakers

Alan O’Grady, Data Protection Commissioner’s Office

Dr. John Ghent, Director, Sytorus

Richard McIlwaine-Biggins, SDD Chairman, Irish Security Industry Association

How to Book

The seminar is FREE to attend, but we ask delegates to please reserve their place in advance by emailing events@isia.ie or call 01-4847206.  Further information is available at http://isia.ie/secure-data-destruction-seminar. 

For further information please contact:

Sarah O’Donnell, Communications Director

Telephone: 01-4847206/Mobile: 087-2229127

Email: sarahodonnell@isia.ie

www.isia.ie

Security Conference at FM Ireland 5-6 March 2014

Security is a big part of the facilities management mix.  Therefore, it should be no surprise that this area of FM is extensively covered at FM Ireland being held on the 5-6 March 2014 in the RDS, Dublin.

Make sure to stop by and visit the ISIA at stand E14 and there will a range of security topics covered as part of the ISIA supported Security Conference Stream.

To find out more click here.

ISIA Awards 2013 - Celebrating the Best in Private Security

The ISIA Awards 2013 were held on the 23rd November in The Powerscourt Hotel.  The awards were attended by over 250 guests and celebrated outstanding individuals across different sectors of the private security industry in Ireland.  This year there were nine award categories and the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) also celebrated the contribution to the industry and the ISIA by former Council of Management member, Les McLindon.  McLindon was awarded with honorary life membership of the association.

To read a full overview of the highlights from the night click here or relive the excitement of the night by checking out our video here.

Thank you to all of the members for supporting the event and of course a very big thank you to all of our sponsors, the ISIA Awards would not be possible without you.

Sponsors of the ISIA Awards 2013  

 

 

ISIA Awards 2013 - Details Announced

The Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) has launched the details of the ISIA Awards 2013 which will be held on the 23^rd November 2013.  The Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) each year highlights the achievements of the private security industry at its Annual Awards.  The ISIA Awards 2013 will be held in the Ritz Carlton, Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow and is promising to be our biggest event to date.  “The key to the success of the ISIA awards is the way it celebrates the outstanding achievements of member companies and their people” said Sheenagh McCullagh, President of the ISIA. 

This year the ISIA is thrilled to announce two new award categories.  For the first time ever, the ISIA will celebrate those locksmiths who are valued by their clients.  Sarah O’Donnell, Communications Director explained, “the ISIA Locksmith of the Year award is really a customer’s choice award.  ISIA locksmiths make the nomination survey available to their client base and it is the customer that selects the winner.  We are really pleased we were in a position to introduce this category as it should increase awareness about the importance of this area in the overall security strategy”. 

Popular individual awards will of course be present again this year such as the Security Officer of the Year Award, Event Security Person Award and the Security Supervisor of the Year Award introduced for the first time last year.  The ISIA Awards 2013 will also recognise Electronic Security as part of the event with a category introduced for these individuals.  “Last year we started to recognise people in the electronic security sector with the ISIA FÁS Apprentice award, but this really opens things up to those long standing professionals in the industry who have not come through and apprenticeship” said McCullagh. 

The Innovation in Security award introduced in 2011 was introduced to encourage companies in private security to foster a culture of innovation.  This award will feature again in 2013.  The past two recipients of this award were Niscayah (now Stanley Security Solutions) in 2011 and last year’s winner was TDS.  “We are really looking forward to this year’s submissions.  Innovation is a recognised component for success and it is has been wonderful to see how many companies is the security industry recognise this” said O’Donnell. 

Nominations are open to the members of the Irish Security Industry Association and must be submitted by the 4^th October 2013.  Sponsorship packages are still available.  

All of the ISIA Awards 2013 details may be found here.  

Thank you to the sponsors of the ISIA Awards 2013!

     

Event Security Licensing: Will it happen and when?

Last year assurances were made by Minister Shatter that the licensing of the event security industry would be introduced.  We now find ourselves at the beginning of the busiest period in the annual calendar of events and licensing of this sector has yet to be introduced.  

You may be wondering, like we were, is licensing of the event security sector going to happen and if it is when is it likely to be introduced?  

The Chairman of the Irish Security Industry Association's (ISIA) event security division recently wrote to Minister Shatter to ask just that.  For a full update of the progress of event security licensing in Ireland, please read our most recent news story on the ISIA website available here. 

Finding a Security Company: Taking the Hard Work Out of an Important Task

Finding a security company in Ireland can be a daunting task.  If you decided to take on this task tomorrow and you went onto the website of the Private Security Authority (PSA) you would find a lengthy list of licensed contractors providing a variety of security services ranging from security guarding services (static guards/door security), companies providing installation and maintenance of electronic security systems (alarms, CCTV and access control), not to mention the companies that monitor alarms, along with those providing cash-in-transit service.  We didn't count, but as of today the list is 62 pages long.  We estimate it could include over 700 companies! 

How can you narrow down your list of options without wading through that very long list and what do you need to make sure your prospective security supplier has in place?  

The Requirements

If you are securing the services of a security company they will need to hold a valid PSA license if they are providing you with any of the following:   

• Static Guards
• Door Security 
• Alarm installation 
• Alarm maintenance 
• CCTV installation 
• CCTV maintenance 
• Access Control System installation 
• Access Control System maintenance 
• Remote monitoring of alarms 
• Transport of Cash

In order for a company to obtain a license they must meet a number of requirements and they must be independently audited against the relevant standards for the area of private security that they are operating in.  For further information on standards and licensing requirements please click here. 

The employees working in Cash in Transit, from today 1st May, static guards and door security will also need to hold an individual license as an employee in that area.  

Getting a Short List of Suppliers

As we already mentioned, there is a lengthy list of companies you can select from, so we are sure you will want to make the task of selecting a security supplier that bit easier.  You may rely on word of mouth referrals from people you know and trust.  However, you should still always check that the company you are referred to holds a valid Private Security Authority (PSA) license, licensing may not have been a legal requirement when your contact dealt with this company.  So always check.  Many security companies will also have sought to demonstrate their standards by gaining certification to various international standards, so it might be worth asking them what standards they operate to.  In other words, try to find out how they differentiate themselves from the hundreds of security companies that are licensed.  However, don't let them blind you with a series of numbers that may just be the minimum required for licensing (refer back to the link on standards for licensing, all companies will have these). The standard they operate to may simply be the minimum standards that they have to meet to trade legally.  If you are looking for a company that stands out from the crowd, ask them if they have achieved any standards outside those required by licensing, such as ISO 9001 or the Irish Security Industry Association's (ISIA) quality requirement, Qualsec.  

If you are considering using members of the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) as a supplier, all of the members of the Guarding Division, Electronic Security Division and Event Security Division will hold Qualsec, the ISIA's own quality scheme which is designed with the customer in mind.  Members of these three divisions must achieve Qulasec Silver at a minimum, but may progress to Qulasec Gold or Qulasec Platinum.  There is further information available on our website which you may access here.  We would also encourage you to always check the validity of a companies ISIA membership and Qulasec standard.  If you are not sure, just call us in the ISIA +353-(0)1-4847206.  

If you are still uncertain about where to start in the search to find a security company to supply the specific security services you need, we can help.  Simply submit the form, available here and we can do some of the hard work for you.  

More Reason to Believe Stiffer Sentencing a Must

Earlier this month we issued a press release highlighting the number of cash-in-transit robberies that had occurred already this year, the threat these incidents are to public safety and employees in the industry, the concerns that the industry have that many are being perpetrated by the same criminals and therefore, the need for stiffer sentencing.  

That press release can be viewed here. 

Since that press release has been issued there was a further incident last Saturday, during the day at the Orwell Shopping Centre near Templeogue.  A handgun was held at a security man's head forcing the security worker to hand over a cash box he had just collected from a supermarket and leaving shoppers terrified.

These incidents are happening during the day, in public locations and are a serious public risk.  As the Irish Security Industry Association's (ISIA) recent press release mentioned, our members fear that these incidents are often being carried out by the same criminals repeatedly.  An article in yesterday's Herald has confirmed those fears, highlighting that the two men currently being held in custody are "also suspected of a spate of similar crimes across counties Dublin, Meath and Cork...and one of them previously served a lengthy jail sentence after the attempted armed robbery of a ex-Dublin GAA player.  He also served a three-year sentence for a separate cash-in-transit robbery in 2002."

ISIA Awards 2012 & 40th Anniversary Celebration

The Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) hosted the ISIA Awards and 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday 10^th November at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.  The awards were attended by over 250 individuals from the private security industry, suppliers to the industry and security managers from a variety of industries.  Also in attendance were members of the Private Security Authority, An Garda Síochána, FÁS and the Dublin Fire Brigade. 

As pointed out by ISIA President, Sean Malone “The ISIA Awards contributes to ensuring that standards within the security industry are kept high”.  Malone thanked all those ISIA members “who took the time to reflect on the excellence of their employees and the outstanding work being done in the industry”.  There were eight awards presented on the night, with three categories being introduced for the first time this year.  

The Premier Award

The Premier Award, sponsored by Noonan, was presented to Dublin Fire Brigade who celebrates their 150^th Anniversary this year.  Dublin Fire Brigade is the largest full time brigade in the country providing fire and emergency response service to over 1.2 million people.  With responsibility for high risk sites throughout Dublin city and county their services are critical to our capital city.  The ISIA was honoured to present this year’s Premier Award to Dublin Fire Brigade which was accepted on behalf of all the men and women of Dublin Fire Brigade by Chief Fire Officer, Stephen Brady.

The Courage Award

This year’s recipient of the Courage Award was Joanne O’Riordan, a truly remarkable individual.  Joanne is one of seven people in the world with total amelia, but she has not let this stop her from anything.  O’Riordan challenged the Taoiseach on the issue of cuts that would impact on those with disabilities, asked women scientists around the world to build her a robot and was invited to address the United Nations on this very topic, which she did earlier this year just after her sixteenth birthday.  Joanne O’Riordan is an inspiration and the ISIA were thrilled to be in a position to recognise her courage with this award, which was sponsored by Synergy Security Solutions. 

Security Officer of the Year

The award for Security Officer of the Year was presented to Tony Gorman, Noonan, for the exceptional service and outstanding contribution he makes as a security officer at Penney’s, Eyre Square, Galway.  There were also two merit award recipients on the night; Andrew Dolan, ISS, for the work he carries out at IBEC and Mihhail Roman, EPM Ireland, for the work he carries out at Swords Business Campus and Stream Global Services. 

Security Supervisor of the Year

The award for Security Supervisor of the Year was presented to Jerome O’Donovan, Noonan, for the outstanding work he does at EMC Cork, where he is responsible for supervising twelve officers in addition to remotely managing the security operations of twenty-seven locations across EMEA.  There were also three merit award recipients on the night; Sean Kavangh, ISS, for the work he carries out at AOL; Martin Keville, Synergy Security Solutions, for the work he carries out at Tara Mines (Boliden) and Marcus Smith, Synergy Security Solutions, for the work he carries out at Bord Gáis Energy.

Event Security Person of the Year

The winner of the Event Security Person of the Year award was Pat Douglas, Pulse Security Management, who was specifically nominated for the work he carries out at the Guinness Storehouse and the contribution he makes to the security and overall experience of visitors to Ireland’s most popular visitor attraction.  There were also two merit award recipients on the night; Derek Dunne, Sword, for the work he carried out at the London Olympic Games and Martin McKevitt, Renaissance Security Services, for the work he carries out for Horse Racing Ireland. 

Electronic Security Apprentice of the Year

In 2007 FÁS introduced an Electronic Security Apprenticeship allowing those working in the area of electronic security to gain a craft with global recognition.  This year, for the first time, the ISIA recognised those ISIA apprentices nearing completion of the apprenticeship.  The award was sponsored by GVD in association with Milestone and the winner was Donagh Kane from Jade.  There were three finalists also recognised on the night; Andrew Fleming of Xenon Security Systems, Shane Kennedy of Stanley Security Solutions and Glen Lunney of G4S Monitoring Ireland. 

Industry Contribution Award

Private security is filled with individuals who work tirelessly on a voluntary basis to improve their industry.  This year the ISIA wished to recognise these efforts and introduced the Industry Contribution Award sponsored by Stanley Security Solutions.  The award was presented to the Security Systems Training Council (SSTC) who gave their own time to assist FÁS with the development of the Electronic Security Apprenticeship and continue to work closely with FÁS on recognition of prior learning (RPL) to ensure those experienced in the industry have an opportunity to also earn a craft.  

Innovation in Security

The award for innovation in security was developed to foster and encourage innovation in the security industry.  Sarah O’Donnell, Communications Director with the ISIA stated “the submissions this year were of a very high standard and we were delighted to be able to say that innovation is a key component in the success of each of the finalists selected”.  There were four finalists selected; G4S, MTS Security, Stanley Security Solutions and TDS.  

The award was sponsored by Anixter and the winner was TDS.  “The TDS submission was based on a piece of work they completed for Google”, stated Martin Crothers, Past President of the ISIA, “but what stood out about TDS is the true culture of innovation in their organisation which impacts on everything they do as a company”.  

The ISIA would like to thank all of the guests who attended on the night, those members who supported the spirit of awards by first of all recognising the excellence within their own companies and of course all of the sponsors without whom the event would not be possible.  

Thank You to Our Sponsors

CCTV & Access Control Licensing Changes

From today there are a number of changes to the requirements for those installing, maintaining and repairing CCTV and Access Control Systems.  From today, the 1st October 2012, those companies or sole traders who install and maintain CCTV and Access Control security systems must hold a private security services license from the Private Security Authority.

What does that mean for you as service provider or for you as a customer of the industry?  Have a read of our information leaflet which outlines what these legislative changes mean for you.

ISIA Information Leaflet on CCTV & Access Control licensing

Preventing Robberies - The Perfect Security Solution

With a Post Office worker injured and cash stolen from Lidl today in two separate raids, the question on many people's minds is bound to be, how can we prevent this and how do we manage the risk to businesses with cash on their premises?  What is the perfect security solution?  Martin Crothers, a recent past President of the ISIA, spoke to Audrey Carville from  RTE on the topic.  For those of you that missed the interview, which aired on Radio 1 Drive Time just after 16:30, we have highlighted some of the key points below.  

According to a news article in the Sunday World, there were more cash robberies in Ireland in the first two months of this year than there were in all of 2011.  So there is no doubting the fact that certain types of crime are on the rise.  In the 1980's in Ireland there were high rates of crime and a frequency of raids too, but as security and security systems improved the frequency of these attacks decreased.  So, where do we go now?  

Today's raid on the Post Office was not successful, but the robbery at Lidl on Thomas Street was.  What security challenges do these types of businesses face and how can the risks to their people and their business be managed?  First of all, the premises itself could offer challenges.  Very often shops and post offices are in old buildings that have not been purpose built.  That in itself can cause difficulty.  Also, you might have put in certain security measures that the criminals are suddenly a step ahead.  Then there is the human element to consider.  As was pointed out in today's interview, if you have someone in a balaclava standing over you with a gun to your head, the security procedures may not spring to mind.  So how does a business combat that?  

When we consider these types of challenges it could lead us to feel that there is simply nothing that can be done.  There certainly isn't a perfect security solution, but that doesn't mean that we cannot continuously work towards improving security and preventing robberies and raids such as those in Dublin today.  As already highlighted, as security advances so do the criminals.  Therefore, it is important that the security industry and the business community is always a step ahead.  This means prioritising security every day.  It must be a part of every person's job each day, particularly when you are a business that holds cash.  Security should be continuously reviewed and upgraded and that is not limited to systems, but should be extended to the people in the business.  Training needs should also be reviewed and risks continuously assessed.  

Regularly reviewing systems, assessing how the systems can be improved and upgraded may require investment, but it could prevent a robbery.  The human element cannot be entirely controlled nor can the criminals, but through regular training, regular reviews of procedures and regular risk assessments you can at least ensure that you have done every thing possible to make an attempted robbery an unsuccessful robbery. 

Security should not be an after thought, it should be a priority and one of your key risk management tools.  What we have outlined above and what was outlined in today's interview is not a perfect security solution, a perfect solution does not exist, but it is as close as you are going to get. 

Risk Manager :: Threats and Trends in the Security Industry

Did you miss out on attending the Crothers Security and Mul T Lock breakfast briefing?  Have a look at the article in Risk Manager Online for an overview of topics covered on the morning.

Risk Manager :: Threats and Trends in the Security Industry

Risk Manager :: New Leadership for the ISIA

Risk Manager :: New Leadership for the ISIA - Risk Manager Online publishes news story on the Irish Security Industry Association's new President.

Election of Officers 2012

The Irish Security Industry Association's (ISIA) Annual General Meeting was held yesterday in Croke Park.  For those readers that are not familiar with the ISIA it is an industry body for companies in the private security industry.  The ISIA promotes and represents the interests of it's members and with the exception of one employee is run by representatives from the membership that form a Council of Management representative of the ISIA's divisions, which are:

• Guarding Services 
• Event & Entertainment Security 
• Electronic Security & Systems (Alarms, CCTV, Access Control)
• Physical Security (locks, safes, gates) 
• Monitoring 
• Cash in Transit/Secure Transport 
• Security Consultants 

The ISIA provides its members with a fantastic opportunity to be hands on in collectively influencing the direction of it's industry and to drive and pursue items of interest and importance to private security companies in Ireland.

Because of the way the association is structured and managed the officers that serve as Chairman or Vice Chairman and make up the Council of Management of the ISIA are of critical importance.  They do the hard work on behalf of their industry working with various stakeholders to ensure private security in Ireland is continuously improved and that high standards are maintained.  Therefore, holding a role within the ISIA is of great importance to the private security industry in Ireland.

Each year the election of officers is conducted at the AGM and this year we had quite a few new officers elected.  As always at the ISIA's AGM, the new President was elected.  The new ISIA President is Sean Malone of Synergy Security and this year we have a first for the ISIA, Sheenagh McCullagh was elected to the role of Vice President and will be the first female to serve as VP of the ISIA.  Brendan Flynn of Noonan was elected as Chairman of the Monitoring Division, Chris Clinch was elected as Chairman of the CIT/Transport division and Pat Hogan was elected Vice Chairman of the Guarding Division joining John O'Donoghue of Noonan as the second Vice Chairman of that division.

The ISIA wishes to both congratulate these individuals and to thank them.  It is people like this that give their time and energy to the interests of the private security industry that makes the ISIA what it is.  This year the ISIA celebrates its 40th Anniversary and with the commitment of its members will enjoy many more years of  continuing to drive the private security forward.

Irish Security Industry Association AGM

The Irish Security Industry Association AGM will take place on the 18th April 2012 in Croke Park and will be followed by our 40th Anniversary Luncheon.  The agenda and booking information have already been sent to members.  If you have not received details please contact Sarah O'Donnell, sarahodonnell@isia.ie for further information.

We look forward to seeing our members on the 18th April in Croke Park.  

FM Ireland Security Conference Stream 22-23 February 2012

The ISIA will be at FM Ireland in the RDS for the next two days.  If you are planning on popping into the expo, we will have representatives available to answer your security related questions at stand D23.

We will also be running some interesting and very beneficial conference presentations for users of security services.  Seminars will run from 10:55 today 22nd Feb and 13:45 tomorrow 23rd Feb.  If you missed the PSA briefing held yesterday for ISIA members, Geraldine Larkin will be giving another presentation this morning at 11:30 as part of the ISIA conference stream.

Check out the conference schedule here.