Security Service Consumers in Romania

Quality is influenced by the price of the service. The security industry in Romania is a vast field. In this article, I will focus on an extremely important element: quality. In private security, quality is often associated with the price of security services. However, this is not always true.

As long as all legal entities are required to ensure their own security, it is clear that multiple variables must be taken into account. The first variable concerns the usefulness or necessity of security. A potential buyer of security services will relate the price to its utility.

If we assume that the company has no financial losses and maintains full control over its management, then its need for security is minimal. However, being forced to ensure security because that’s how the "smart guys" wanted it, the legal entity becomes an involuntary beneficiary of security services. Which company will it choose? Most likely, one that offers security services at the lowest price.

This is where a long journey begins. The private security sector is not only vast but also quite specialized and technical. In general, very little is known about what the security industry should truly look like, what steps must be taken to obtain high-quality services, or how one should protect themselves from thieves.

Of course, this is not a unique field. It is similar to all areas requiring specific and technical knowledge, such as law, medicine, engineering, or architecture. You may argue that Romanians believe they are skilled in everything and do not need qualified support.

The perception that we possess in-depth knowledge is often illusory. This illusion is further reinforced by the fact that people around us claim expertise they cannot substantiate with strong arguments. The natural human tendency to not be outdone leads us to respond with our own falsehoods.

To receive correct answers, we must ask questions in a specific way and pursue a concrete goal. For example, someone offers you a security service at a high price, arguing that an efficient and high-quality service comes at a cost. You tend to believe them, but you lack all the necessary information. That individual may actually represent a company that, in the past, operated with rates below the minimum wage threshold. Now, they can no longer propose low rates because several companies have been caught evading taxes, leading to criminal investigations. In this situation, that person has only one option: to present themselves as an honest individual who cares about their customers because they can no longer resort to bribery or tax evasion.

There is a significant difference between cause and effect. The first thing perceived is the effect. Now, you are aware of the effect. The cause, however, is hidden for a simple reason: the individual before you wants to be perceived as a trustworthy person offering 100% security. But is it possible to uncover the real cause? Theoretically, yes, but in practice, it is very difficult. You would need extensive knowledge of the security industry’s intricacies or conduct thorough research online. There, you can find major scams and fraud cases. A person who has engaged in fraud (even against the state) cannot suddenly become honest overnight. Everything around them has been built on forgery, scams, tax evasion, and corruption. This person could become a real problem for you if you allow them into your "home."

If questions are direct and follow a logical sequence of responses, this is the most effective method to uncover not only important but also truthful information. I aim to provide a set of relevant questions that target real issues, with answers that reflect reality.

A fundamental question concerns the perception of Romania’s security industry. Before answering, we must establish a benchmark. Security industries worldwide operate based on well-defined criteria, where rules are typically set by those with integrity—except in some cases, such as former communist bloc countries and a few underdeveloped nations. To establish a fair benchmark, we should look to European Union countries. There, legislation is simple and does not force anyone to ensure their own security. It would be illogical for a legal entity to pay taxes and levies—including for public order and safety—while also being required to fund its own security.

Currently, Romania’s security industry is closely tied to certain interest groups. Most of these groups have surrounded themselves with entities that, for years, have evaded taxes and corrupted the system to better secure their positions. Unfortunately, the "referee" who was supposed to establish a fair legal framework for all players—with the primary concern being the security consumer—has done almost nothing.

I am referring to the Regulatory Authority within the Romanian Police. The proof that I am right recently came to light when corrupt dealings within the industry—carried out years ago—were exposed, leading to several arrests among key "players." What the authorities did during this time is quite obvious.

The Regulatory Authority is, in fact, the Police. How is it that they did not use all their legal "weapons" to combat corruption within the system? This is a question that demands urgent answers. Honestly, I don’t think we will get them.

Why did all these things happen? My explanation is simple: there was no force to balance and counteract illegal activities in the industry. Who could have been that force? The consumers of security services—those who currently pay over one and a half billion euros annually, not including related activities. Their lack of involvement has left the industry with only one decision-making player: service providers and their representatives.

Two major decisions were needed to completely change the security industry: the obligation for legal entities to ensure their own security and the requirement for every legal entity to conduct a physical security risk assessment. Fortunately, a certain decision-maker’s desire to impose a similar obligation on private individuals did not materialize.

If you ask me who is primarily responsible, I must admit that it is a difficult question, but I do have some answers. The imbalance of power in the security industry has allowed service providers to become the primary decision-makers, while security consumers have not actively exercised their influence. This has enabled unethical or illegal practices to persist, as no force has counterbalanced or effectively regulated the market.

If this phenomenon continues, it could lead to a lack of genuine competition, artificially inflated prices, and the persistence of inefficient practices. A possible solution would be for the beneficiaries of these services to become more aware of their purchasing power and demand transparency, quality, and adherence to ethical standards in the industry. This could be achieved by forming consumer associations, implementing stricter regulations, or increasing pressure on authorities to intervene.

I hope Romania’s security industry moves toward a normal trajectory, where those who operate ethically are respected for their true value.

Eugen Manasia