Security companies: new requirement from 2018 in Zurich

Until now, the canton of Zurich had only rudimentary regulations on private security companies. A proposal by the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (CCJP) to join the Concordat on Private Security Services (KÜPS), the Zurich Cantonal Council, acting on a proposal from the Committee for Justice and Public Security (KJS) and in April 2016 passed an independent regulation in the "Law on the Requirements for Private Security Services". This law narrows down the range of regulated activities compared to the concordat, dispenses with licenses for individual employees and instead places greater responsibility on the companies, as the government council emphasizes.

For the implementation of the adopted regulation, the Government Council now allows the corresponding amendments to the Police Act and the Hospitality Industry Act to come into force. At the same time, it designated the Trade Licensing Department as responsible for issuing licenses and set the framework for the amount of the license fees.

Security companies need new permit

According to the government council, private security companies now require an operating license. In addition, the employees of these companies and the security staff of catering establishments (especially bouncers) would have to meet certain requirements. These include practical and theoretical training appropriate to the tasks as well as regular further training. The companies or the hospitality businesses (patent holders) are responsible for ensuring that their security employees meet these requirements.

All material provisions of the new regulation, including the corresponding fee schedules, will enter into force together with the newly adopted law on January 1, 2018, according to the notification. The formal licensing requirement for security companies will not apply until January 1, 2019, as a transitional period.