About the BSP

Bureau de la sécurité privée (BSP) was created by the Private Security Act (PSA), which came into force in its entirety on July 22, 2010.

It is the self-regulatory body that governs the private security industry in Quebec, more specifically the six major activity sectors defned in Section 1 of the PSA:

• Security guarding
• Investigation
• Locksmith work
• Activities related to electronic security systems
• Transport of valuables
• Security consulting

BSP plays a key role in the professionalism of the private security industry in Quebec, hand in hand with stakeholders of this industry.

History

The PSA replaces the former Act respecting detective or security agencies, which was passed in 1962 but never was significantly revised.

At the request of the industry and for the purposes of updating this outdated law, the Minister of Public Security set up an advisory committee in 1996 to examine the scope of existing legislation, the relationships between public and private security, career entry requirements and ways to raise the level of integrity and professionalism in the private security industry in Quebec.

Based on the advisory committee's findings, the Minister submitted the Livre blanc: La Sécurité privée, partenaire de la sécurité intérieure to the Assemblée nationale in December 2003. 

As the Livre blanc failed to gather the support of the majority of stakeholders, the Minister set up five sectoral committees in June 2004 to come up with potential solutions regarding training, ethics, indsutry regulation, the identification of stakeholders and the financing of such a reform. The sectoral committees each submitted a report to the Minister in September 2004. The content of the PSA was largely inspired by their reports.

The result of this extensive work, which lasted several years, was Bill 88: Private Security Act. The PSA was passed by the Assemblée nationale on June 14, 2006 and entered into force in its entirety on July 22, 2010. 

Mission

BSP's mission is to protect the public. To this end, it:

• ensures the enforcement of the PSA and its regulations;
• issues agent and agency licences in the six classes subject to the PSA;
• processes complaints lodged againts licence holders; provides training for the representatives of agency licence holders;
• fosters cohesive action by the private security and public security sectors; advises the Minister of Public Security on any matter the Minister submits to it in connection with private security;
• advises the Minister of Public Security on any matter the Minister submits to it connection with private security.

By fulfilling its mission, BSP offers the public peace of mind and builds trust in private security stakeholders. 

In order to fulfill its mission, BSP has certain powers granted by law:

Power to control the granting of the right to offer and carry out private security activities

BSP controls the right to offer and carry out private security activities by issuing agency and agent licences in the six classes subject to the PSA. In so doing, it ensures that all licence applicants meet the criteria set out in the PSA and its regulations for the issue of an agent or agency licence, as the case may be. If any of these criteria are not met, BSP has the power to refuse to issue a licence.

BSP can also refuse to issue a licence to an enterprise or individual who meets the criteria under the PSA and its regulations if:

• For an agency:  the owner of the business, the representative, a partner or shareholder with a major interest in the business or a director was denied an agent or agency licence or renewal of a licence or whose licence was suspended or cancelled in the five-year period preceding the application.
• For an agent: the applicant was denied a licence or renewal of a licence or whose licence was suspended or cancelled during the five-year period preceding the application.

Power to regulate and monitor the offer and performance of private security activities

All holders of a licence issued by BSP must continue to meet the conditions of issuing a licence and fulfill the associated obligations set out in the PSA and its regulations throughout the validity period of the licence.

To protect the public, BSP may also provide an agency licence holder with directives for carrying out its activities or require that its representative be replaced.

If these obligations are not fulfilled or the directives are not followed, the PSA grants BSP the following powers over licence holders, according to whether they have an agency or agent licence.  

AGENCY

BSP may suspend, cancel or refuse to renew an agency licence if the holder:

• no longer meets the conditions prescribed by the PSA or its regulations for obtaining an agency licence;
• fails to pay the annual fees;
• holds employment incompatible with the private security activity for which an agent licence was issued, particularly any employment in a police force;
• was found guilty of an offence under the PSA or its regulations;
• has viloated the standards of conduct established by regulation.

AGENT

BSP may suspend, cancel or refuse to renew an agent licence if the holder:

• no longer meets the conditions prescribed by the PSA or its regulations for obtaining an agent licence;
• fails to pay the annual fees;
• holds employment incompatible with the private security activity for which an agent licence was issued, particularly any employment in a police force;
• was found guilty of an offence under the PSA or its regulations;
• has viloated the standards of conduct established by regulation.

However, BSP has no choice but to cancel the agent licence of a holder who is found guilty of a criminal offense related to the activity that he/she carries on or who is no longer of good moral character.

An unfavourable BSP administrative decision can be appealed by applying to Tribunal administratif du Québec.  

Power to conduct investigations and inspections

To ensure the PSA and its regulations are enforced, BSP is also granted powers of investigation and inspection. Go to the Investigations and Inspections section to learn more.