ALLEGATIONS that convicted criminals are being employed by private security companies are under investigation, police said yesterday.
Reports that the same companies have allegedly attempted to force businesses to buy protection from them are also under investigation, police added.
By law private security companies must be operated by people with a clean criminal record. The same extends to its employees, police told the Cyprus Mail.
“But there have been reports that this is not the case and that people with a criminal record are working for these companies. There are also reports that some of these private policing businesses are trying to force other businesses from buying protection from them,” the officer confirmed.
Justice Minister Sophocles Sophocleous said a law had been passed to keep private security offices in check but that “procedural loopholes” meant it had yet to be implemented.
But House Legal Affairs Committee Chairman Ionas Nicolaou said even the existing law was better than no law.
“Two years ago the law was deemed necessary and it was addressed and discussed in parliament and the bill was finally passed last June,” he said.
“Now if there are other ideas that need to be addressed we are open for discussion… But the existing law is much better than nothing,” Nicolaou said.
Nevertheless Sophocleous said the bill was under review by the Cabinet.
He said information that private security companies employed “underworld” figures was of concern but that the law which had recently been passed still had some loopholes that needed to be amended.
“Who are behind these companies is of great interest to us. There is no doubt that some people who have a criminal record could possibly have taken part in or take part in strange incidences,” the minister said.
He also said it was possible that foreigners with shady criminal pasts were being hired by private security companies.
“At this present moment we are discussing the proposal at the Cabinet to amend the bill, taking into account new status quo, new concerns, and new information.
“We are concerned that this phenomenon – without pointing the finger at any particular company – gets out of control and then we come [to deal with it] after the fact,” he said.
??
??
??
??
