All applicants for a licence are vetted by An Garda Síochána. In addition, the PSA may request a licence holder to be vetted at any stage during the term of a licence. All vetting results are assessed against the PSA’s Fit and Proper Assessment.
Section 22(3)(a)(i) of the Private Security Services Acts 2004 and 2011, as amended, allows the PSA to refuse to grant a licence if satisfied that the applicant is not a fit and proper person to provide a security service. In addition, Section 26(1)(b)(iii) of the Act allows the PSA to suspend or revoke a licence where it is satisfied that the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person.
The Act does not specify what is meant by “a fit and proper person”. The PSA has developed Fit and Proper Assessment criteria to assist it in determining who is a fit and proper person. These criteria are published in our document “Granting a Licence – Suitability Criteria Guidelines“.
Applicants should read the guidelines carefully and consider the impact, if any, on their application. Once an application has been refused the PSA will not issue a refund of the fee paid.
