Security company

The conditions for setting up security and protection companies are governed by the law on guarding premises, property and valuables and the protection of persons (republished in 2014).

Under that law, security companies are companies governed by the Companies Law, set up and operating under its provisions. Their business is guarding property, premises and valuables, securely guarding the transport of goods and valuables, and protecting persons.

Their services are paid under contracts with the beneficiaries, and they must keep records of those contracts in special registers.

Security staff may not gather intelligence. If they obtain data or information that endangers national security, they must inform the competent national security authorities immediately.

Such companies operate on the basis of a licence issued by the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police (IGPR), with the prior opinion of the Romanian Intelligence Service obtained for at least one of the three activities set by law. The operating licence can be renewed every three years.

The activities on which a security company may be based are:

• guarding property, premises and valuables, and related consultancy;
• guarding the transport of goods and valuables, and related consultancy;
• close personal protection (bodyguard services), and related consultancy.

The CAEN code for security activities is 8010.

To obtain the operating licence, the following must be submitted:

• the company’s internal rules of organisation and operation;
• a list of the material, technical, transport and communications equipment for the chosen activity;
• proof of registration of the company name and distinctive signs with the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks;
• notice to the county council (or the Bucharest General Council) that the registered office is in its area;
• proof of payment of the licence fee;
• the professional certificates of the staff who will carry out security activities.

The manager of the security company must obtain the approval of the county police inspectorate (or Bucharest police directorate) for the area of the registered office.

The police will approve the manager if he or she:

• is a Romanian citizen or a citizen of an EU or EEA member state;
• is at least 21 years old;
• has appropriate training for the role;
• has good civic conduct;
• has not been convicted of intentional offences.

The manager must ensure compliance with the law and the company’s own rules on organisation, hiring, supervision and training of staff, equipping the company with intervention and personal defence equipment, and the wearing of uniforms and insignia.

Security companies may not use uniforms, insignia, names or accessories that are identical or similar to, or could be confused with, those of public authorities or international bodies to which Romania belongs.

The design of staff uniforms, bearing the company’s name and logo, is approved together with the licence, under a Government decision.