Security company Manguard Plus has become the first Irish firm in the sector to be accepted as a member of pan-European professional body the Confederation of European Security Services.

The CoESS is recognised by the European Commission as the only European employers' organisation to represent the private security sector. Founded in 1989, the CoEss is the umbrella organisation for 23 national private security employers’ associations, of which 17 are in the EU.

Chairman Bill Brown (pictured) said: “Manguard Plus has been at the forefront of the national strategic and structured improvements in pay, training and standards in this industry since 1999. We have always understood the importance of the European dimension and have been active supporters of CoESS since 2005, through the Irish national association, and we will continue that support.”

CoEss director general Catherine Piana added: “In order to be effective and credible, CoESS must aim at the widest possible representation of the industry. There still are a few countries in Europe where the association decides to focus on national matters or that don’t have an association. 

“The fact that Manguard Plus is joining is a first step towards a closer cooperation with Ireland, which we warmly welcome. Bill Brown has been active in the social dialogue and in standardisation activities at EU level for many years and I look forward to benefiting from his enthusiasm and expertise in those areas and, with Bill’s help, to demonstrate the added value of CoESS to the Irish stakeholders, businesses and associations alike.”

In Association with

Brown says that Manguard Plus is the largest privately owned security company in Ireland. It employs c.1,300 people at offices in Kildare, Dublin, Waterford, Derry, Belfast and London. The Kildare location houses its €1m Command and Control centre in Naas.

Aer Lingus, DSV and Virgin Media are clients.