Compliance activity by the Private Security Authority reaches all-time high in 2025

The Private Security Authority (PSA) has today published its Annual Report 2025, highlighting a year of record compliance and enforcement activity as the Authority marks 20 years of regulating Ireland’s private security industry.

Throughout 2025, the PSA conducted the highest number of unannounced inspections of licensed business premises in its history, alongside record levels of contractor inspections, enforcement cases, and licence revocations, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the public and maintaining confidence in the industry.

The report details how in 2025 the following interventions were made:

  • 2,237 unannounced inspections on business premises (35% up on 2024)
  • 1,033 enforcement cases opened (28% up on 2024)
  • 177 contractor inspections (23% up on 2024)
  • 6 contractor and 243 individual licences revoked
  • 1 successful prosecution concluded.

This significant increase in compliance activity reflects the PSA’s proactive, intelligence-led approach to regulation. Unannounced inspections of contractors and business premises play a vital role in ensuring that licence holders continue to meet the high standards expected of the industry, while robust enforcement action is taken where serious or persistent non-compliance is identified. These activities help safeguard consumers, support compliant businesses, and reinforce the integrity of the licensing system.

Commenting on the Report, John Phelan, Chief Executive of the Private Security Authority, stated:

Before the establishment of the PSA, the security sector operated without statutory oversight or mandatory licensing. Just about anyone could establish a security firm or work independently, with no formal training requirements, legal standards, or vetting mechanisms to verify that personnel were fit and proper to protect the public.

As the sector continues to grow, the PSA remains focused on effective regulation, strong governance, and working with industry to promote high standards of compliance in the years ahead.

John Phelan, Chief Executive, observed:

This year marks 20 years since the introduction of licensing in Ireland’s private security industry, a significant milestone in the development of a more professional, accountable, and trusted sector.

2025 was another busy year for the PSA, during which we received our highest ever number of applications and issued our greatest number of licences.

Compliance activity remains at the heart of the Private Security Authority’s regulatory role. Proactive compliance measures not only identify and address instances of non-compliance, but also promote a culture of accountability, support fair competition, and provide reassurance to the public that private security services are delivered by licensed and compliant operators.

Speaking about the report, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan TD, stated:

I want to thank CEO John Phelan and the staff of The Private Security Authority for their excellent work in 2025 and for their commitment to high standards. The Private Security Authority plays a vital role in protecting the public through the effective regulation of the industry, promoting high professional standards, raising awareness of regulatory requirements, and taking proportionate enforcement action to ensure compliance.  I also want to commend Chairperson Jillian van Turnhout and the entire Board of PSA for their strong leadership in 2025.

The PSA’s Strategic Plan 2026 to 2028 was launched in November 2025 setting out four goals:

Goal 1: Strengthen regulatory effectiveness and enforce compliance to build public confidence in the security industry

Goal 2: Advance professional standards and practice through industry partnership to elevate competence across all sectors

Goal 3: Modernise operations to achieve enhanced efficiency and effectiveness

Goal 4: Build on organisational foundations to support successful strategy delivery

2025 in numbers:

  • 43,958 individuals and 1,383 contractors licensed at year’s end.
  • 18,798 applications were processed in 2025 (an increase of 14% on 2024).
  • 2,237 unannounced inspections on business premises (an increase of 35% on 2024).
  • 1,033 enforcement cases were opened (an increase of 28% on 2024).
  • 177 contractor inspections (an increase of 23% on 2024).
  • 1 successful prosecution concluded.
  • 6 contractors and 243 individual licences were revoked.
  • 2 contractor and 10 individual licences were temporarily suspended.
  • 43 enforcement notices issued to licence holders.
  • 43,958 individuals were licensed at the year’s end – an increase of 5.5% from 2024 and the highest number since licensing began.
  • 645 intelligence reports were received in 2025.
  • 1,643 contractor sectoral licences (a contractor may have licences for more than one sector) were in issue at the end of 2025 including:
    • 970 (59%) for the electronic security sector
    • 196 (12%) for the locksmith sector
    • 184 (11%) for the security guard sector.
  • €1,636,976 was received in contractor license fees in 2025 (€1,573,284 in 2024 and €1,545,338 in 2023 – the comparable year in the 2-year licence cycle).
  • €2,213,373 was received in individual license fees in 2025 (€1,783,739 in 2024 and €1,996,518 in 2022 – the comparable year in the 3-year licence cycle).

Further information can be requested from:

Contact: Keith Nolan, Head of Corporate Affairs, the Private Security Authority.

E-mail:    [email protected]