the security market | France

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The guarding refers to the activity related to private security in France generally carried out by service companies: the services offered are human surveillance in a building but also the surveillance of property (buildings, companies, businesses, banks, etc.).

This sector has experienced a development the demand for human surveillance increased significantly between 2001 and 2005 following the trauma of the attacks in New York and Madrid, which led to a sharp rise in the demand for human surveillance, fuelled by the persistence - and even increase - of the terrorist threat. After experiencing a growth of around 30% between 2010 and 2015, the market continued this good trend in 2016 and 2017, due to the attacks that have taken place in the last two years, pushing for the strengthening of private security in France. Guarding represents more than three quarters of the private security sector's turnover in France.

A variety of companies have emerged in the sector, increasing competition and driving down quality of service. Various factors (unfair competition, 35-hour week, compressed margins) continue to weaken the sector year after year. Since 2008, there has also been a vast movement of concentration causing the demise of thousands of businesses. The other key fact of the sector is the professionalization of personnel with the issuance of a mandatory certification of professional qualification (CQP) since January 2008, which has made it possible to eliminate unprofessional actors.

Currently, nearly one out of every two security firms is owned by a foreign group. 100% French players such as Neo Security are playing the tricolour card to gain market share, while more diversified players in home services such as Onet develop strong security skills. Some players are riding the wave of innovation and using drones to reinforce private security.