Estate agents revise security after Graham Dwyer case

Estate agents are stepping up their staff security policies in the wake of the Graham Dwyer murder trial and conviction. Two national agents are trialling a "lone worker" smartphone security app among staff that allows agents who are showing houses alone in remote locations to raise the alarm if they feel they are in danger.

Following evidence provided during the Graham Dwyer trial that he had been planning to murder a Dublin estate agent by masquerading as a potential buyer of a vacant property, agents have been revising their safety policies.

Most estate agents introduced safety measures following the Suzy Lamplugh case in the UK in 1986 when the 28-year-old agent went missing after leaving to show a house to a client and was never found. Typically these measures include carrying a panic alarm (with no security connection), checking out potential property viewers before arranging appointments, and keeping updated diary details of all appointments including locations, timings and phone numbers.

A spokeswoman for Sherry FitzGerald says the recent case has reminded agents of staff vulnerability and says advances in technology can help improve existing security measures. The app being trialled responds to shaking or tapping sequences that activate a call to a 24-hour monitoring service. This either triggers a call back where the agent may then use a “safe” or “duress” word, or immediately activates a callout by sending location co-ordinates, audio and video footage directly to the authorities.

A spokeswoman at Savills says it is trialling similar software, but adds that these are purely reactive tools for bad situations. “The emphasis should really be on positive proactive behaviour, where agents take the necessary precautions before getting to such a point, like always having their phone fully charged, staying close to exits, and watching out for telltale behaviour.”