Industry News
Ontario investigates unlicensed security company selling night patrols
An unlicensed security company selling $20 night patrols to homes near London, Ontario, is under provincial investigation, CBC News reported.
An unlicensed security company that sells overnight neighborhood patrols in Lambeth and Byron, two areas of London, Ontario, is now under investigation by the province, CBC News reported on November 4. The company, ABP Security, is not licensed under Ontario's Private Security and Investigative Services Act, the ministry confirmed to CBC.
Key points#
- Owner Zee Kadri charges $20 a month to drive by and check on houses in Lambeth through the night and says he has about 25 customers, CBC News reported.
- Ontario's Ministry of the Solicitor General confirmed ABP is not licensed and called the matter an active investigation, according to CBC.
- Under the Ontario law, security firms and their staff must complete a training course and pass criminal record checks, and a license is needed even to advertise security services, CBC reported.
- A licensed competitor filed the complaint after seeing ABP's ads, the broadcaster said.
How the patrol business works#
Kadri, a former swimming pool contractor, launched ABP in 2025 after two of his vehicles were damaged in a break-in, CBC News reported. He told CBC he does not try to stop or confront anyone he sees, and that he does not call police.
Videos on the company's website and Facebook page show official-looking patrol cars, including one with a flashing rooftop lightbar, CBC said. Kadri told the broadcaster he was working toward a license and expected it within days.
Why a licensed competitor complained#
Hofsep Yousef, president of the licensed London firm Security Guard Group, filed the complaint, CBC News reported. His company has been in business since 2020 and has 100 employees. "If something goes wrong on a client's property, the insurance will not pay up if you are not licensed," he told CBC.
Yousef said license holders also face government inspections of uniforms and vehicles so they do not look like police, the broadcaster reported. After he complained, he said, he was told to contact the provincial police, then London Police, then the city's bylaw officers. London Police told CBC that license questions belong with the Solicitor General.
Ontario's own guidance says the ministry may review complaints about people or agencies providing unlicensed security services, and that complaints should be filed within 90 days of an incident, according to the Government of Ontario.
What it means for your company#
- Licensing is your sales argument. When a cheap, unlicensed patrol appears in your market, show clients your license, insurance and training records side by side.
- Keep every officer's papers current. Track licenses and certificates with their expiry dates so no one works a post on a lapsed card.
- Keep vehicles and uniforms clearly private. License holders face government inspections so guards do not resemble police, a licensed operator told CBC. Check what your state allows before you add lightbars or markings.
- Prove the patrol happened. A drive-by only helps if it passes at the right time, a former London police chief told CBC. Logged patrol tours with checkpoint scans show clients when officers were on site.
- Know where to report. Rules and enforcement differ by state. Ask your state licensing agency or an attorney how to report an unlicensed operator.
In Guardix, licenses and certificates are stored with their expiry dates, and managers get reminders before they expire.
Frequently asked questions#
Do security patrol companies in Ontario need a license?#
Yes. Under Ontario's Private Security and Investigative Services Act, security firms and their employees need a license, which requires a training course and criminal record checks, CBC News reported. The law requires a license even to advertise security services.
How do you report an unlicensed security company in Ontario?#
The Ministry of the Solicitor General takes public complaints, including about unlicensed security services, online or by mail, according to the Government of Ontario. Complaints should be filed within 90 days of the incident, and there is no fee.
Sources#
- Licensing
- Patrols
- Canada