A major problem with electronic security systems has been false alarms, and their consequent financial and manpower costs. Some departments have dealt with this problem by instituting user charge schemes, responding only to genuine alarms, and issuing warnings and instituting charges for repeated alarm malfunctions. Legislative initiatives also have been implemented to improve the quality of security services through the development of standards and the licensing of security agents. Recent efforts by the Queensland police have uncovered and responded to a variety of undesirable private security practices, including sale of inferior security products at greatly inflated prices, the use of fear and hire-purchase agreements to promote door-to-door sales of security equipment, and bogus debugging experts. In addition, while there have been technological advances in the security industry, employees often lack sufficient training to adopt to these advances. To remediate these shortcomings, the security industry will have to work toward developing enforceable standards for security equipment and personnel. A question-and-answer discussion is included.