About ISTA

ISTA was established in 1997. At that time there was no recognised or accredited training available in Ireland for the Door Supervisor or other specific sectors of the Security Industry. We felt very strongly that, although many duties and responsibilities are common to all sectors, each sector of the security industry has areas of responsibility and duties individual to it. A simple example of the differences is a person working in the Static and Patrol sector, where the primary objective is the protection of property, would have little or no contact with the general public, whereas the primary objective of an Event Security Steward is the protection of life.

We carried out an intensive study of best working practices and the security training available in other parts of the world. We researched other European States such as Holland, Germany UK, and Belgium. We also looked further afield to Australia and United States. The outcome of our extensive research was that we decided to become training partners with "Security Industry Training Organisation International" (SITO International) which is based in the UK.
They had over twenty years of international experience in developing and delivering Basic Job Training programs for individual sectors of the Security Industry. We adapted their Door Supervisors BJT Course to incorporate Irish and European Law.

In 1999 we launched our Door Supervisors BJT as part of our "Safer Door 2000" Project. Since that time, we have further developed and delivered this course nationwide with great success. This sector of the industry had, until then, been predominately operated from the black market economy with no training, registration or accountability and was crying out for change. Following on from our "Safer Doors 2000" Project, we launched the first national database of registered Door Staff. Anyone who successfully passed the 'assessment' at the end of the 16 hour BJT Course and provided us with proof of identity was registered on the database. Each Graduate was issued with a Certificate and a unique numbered photo ID Tag.

Due to the phenomenal success of this process in the Door Supervisor industry, we have developed other BJT courses for the Retail Security Officer and for the Static and Patrol Guard. All our BJT Courses are registered and certified by FETAC. They are also accredited internationally by SITO.

With the long overdue and very welcome launch of the new PSA (Private Security Authority) - the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland, the industry as a whole is moving forward into the 21st Century. The Private Security Authority will issue two types of licences i.e. 'Private Security Service Contractors Licence' (applies to companies, partnerships and sole traders providing security services) and 'Private Security Service Employee Licence' Each licence will identify the sector(s) of the private security industry in which the licensee is authorised to operate and will be valid for two years The PSA. will require licence applicants to obtain a nationally recognised qualification (accredited by FETAC). Such a qualification could be recognised as the entry route to a higher qualification and provide for career progression within the industry. It shall soon be an offence for anyone to provide a security service without a PSA licence or any individual to work in the industry without an individual licence.
We believe with our background and past experience, we are the market leaders in the provision of security training. We will continue to monitor, develop and deliver up to date training to the industry to make it a better working environment and a safer place for us all.