General News


Three Year Disqualification for Security Director

Wednesday, September 26, 2012 Comments Off by Debbie Kelly

A Staffordshire director was yesterday [25 Sept] sentenced to 18 months community service and disqualified as a director for three years after pleading guilty to a string of security offences.

Deraz Majid, 30, was working as director of Staffordshire Security Services Ltd and as a security guard without an SIA licence, as well as deploying unlicensed guards. In an attempt to cover the offending he made false statements about the business to the Security Industry Authority.

SIA investigators first made enquiries into SSS Ltd when they discovered that the listed sole director, Deraz Majid’s brother, did not hold the necessary SIA licence.

Deraz Majid, of 23 St.John’s Street, Hanley, Stoke on Trent, attended an interview with SIA investigators and Police Community Support Officers from Staffordshire Police, during which he pretended to be his brother.

However, during a joint police and SIA inspection of the company’s main office in Hanley, Majid’s real identity became apparent and he was arrested on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice. Security related paperwork was seized by police officers.

Majid, who controlled the business as a shadow director, had registered his brother as a director without his knowledge. During further investigation by the SIA, it was discovered that Deraz Majid was operating illegally by working in the role of director and as a security guard without an SIA licence, and had also deployed unlicensed security guards, including to a construction site in Hanley.

During a previous hearing at Stafford Magistrates Court on 19 September, Majid pleaded guilty to working as an unlicensed director of a security company, working as an unlicensed guard, six charges of deploying unlicensed guards (three of these against Stafford Security Services Ltd as a business), and two charges of making false statements to the SIA.

Yesterday [25 Sept] at Cannock Magistrates Court, Majid was sentenced to an 18 month community service order and to undertake 200 hours unpaid work. The court placed him under a three-year Director Disqualification Order – the first time such an order has been applied as a result of an SIA prosecution. He was ordered to pay £1,200 towards prosecution costs. Stafford Security Services Ltd was fined £1500 and ordered to pay £10,000 in prosecution costs.

The Magistrate bench described the offending as “foolish, which was seriously compounded by the false information provided.”

SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon added: “Mr Majid won security contracts by undercutting the costs of other providers. However, his mismanagement of the business led to offences being committed. He then sought to mislead the SIA, providing false information to conceal the true position of the company. This sentence means that not only can Mr Majid no longer operate within the security industry, but he will for a period be unable to be a director of any business. Stafford Security Services Ltd has ceased to trade following this investigation and pays a significant financial penalty.”

Peterborough Door Supervisor Ordered to Pay £7000 for Breaking the Law

Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Comments Off by Debbie Kelly

A Peterborough door supervisor has been ordered to pay more than £7,000 for working illegally and breaking SIA licence conditions. 

At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday [23 May], Scott Lee Greensmith was sentenced to a 12 month community service order to undertake 120 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay costs of £7,833.

Greensmith, 32, from Uldale Road, Gunthorpe, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to working without holding a valid Security Industry Authority licence, but pleaded not guilty to breaking licence conditions when he failed to return his revoked licence to the SIA.

Greensmith was found working illegally in September 2011 when SIA investigators carried out a series of inspections across the UK. Greensmith was found working with a revoked licence at a bar in March, Cambridgeshire.

In court, District Judge Ken Sheraton found Greensmith guilty of breaking licence conditions because he failed to demonstrate that he had undertaken all due diligence to avoid contravening the conditions of his licence.

SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon said:

“Mr Greensmith had his SIA licence revoked and was aware of the SIA’s revocation process and he continued to operate as a door supervisor. By avoiding the reality of his situation, Greensmith has paid a high penalty.  I hope this sentence will act as a warning to others that in order to work as a door supervisor you must be correctly licensed and adhere to the licence conditions at all times.

“We will be carrying out a series of follow up checks at licensed premises in Cambridgeshire over the next few weeks. The aim is to raise awareness of SIA licence requirements for those working in the night time economy and to remind them, their employers and the venues they work at of their legal responsibilities.”

SIA launches telephone licence renewal service

Monday, March 26, 2012 Comments Off by Debbie Kelly

A telephone renewals service that allows SIA licence holders to renew without having to complete an application form has been launched today [26 March].

The improved licence renewal service has been introduced in response to customer feedback, and is available for anyone renewing a licence, or applying for an additional licence in another sector, who:

-              Is renewing, or already holds, a current SIA licence;

-              Has previously supplied a passport, a UK digital passport number, or a UK driving   licence;

-              Has kept their name and address details up to date;   and

-              Will pay the licence fee by debit or credit card.

 During the telephone conversation, applicants will be asked to confirm their details, make a declaration that the information provided is accurate and make a card payment for the licence application fee. The whole process should take around 15 minutes and means that no application form or documents need to be completed and sent.

The SIA will then complete the required checks, including requesting a criminal record check, before making a decision on the licence application and, if granted, issuing the licence.

SIA assistant director of Customer Services and Quality Improvement Christy Hopkins said: “This is part of our drive to simplify and modernise our customer services. Customers have told us they think renewing their licence should be more straightforward and we’ve listened. The telephone service will make the renewal application quicker for licence holders but it is just one of the improvements we are making to our service. Later this year we plan to launch a fully online renewals service which will make it easier for companies to renew on behalf of their staff.”

 

Manchester security supplier loses ACS appeal

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 Comments Off by Debbie Kelly

A security company refused accreditation through a government scheme has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 after losing its appeal against the decision.

21st Security Ltd applied for membership of the Security Industry Authority’s Approved Contractor Scheme, but was refused on the grounds that it was not considered fit and proper to hold the accreditation.

The company, based at Monsal Road, Newton Heath in Manchester, supplied security guards to premises in the Greater Manchester area.

Joint agency site visits involving the SIA and Greater Manchester Police, as part of the Salford based initiative Project Gulf, established that the firm had been deploying unlicensed operatives and individuals without the right to work in the UK.

Information to support the SIA’s decision to refuse the company’s application for SIA Approved Contractor status was provided by a number of enforcement partners including Greater Manchester Police, the Department for Work and Pensions and the UK Border Agency.

After 21st Security’s application was refused, the company lodged an appeal. At City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday [09 Jan], a district judge dismissed this appeal and awarded the SIA £25,269 in costs. 21st Security Ltd did not attend the hearing.

Assistant Director ACS Andrew Shephard said: “This was a complex ACS appeal case, which required the coordination and gathering of evidence from a number of agencies working in partnership. The outcome upholds the SIA’s decision to refuse this company approved contractor status, helping to ensure that the credibility of the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme be maintained.”

Keep the burglar out this winter with simple security precautions, says BSIA

Monday, October 31, 2011 Comments Off by Debbie Kelly

 The clocks going back on Sunday 30th October  marked the start of the burglar’s favourite time of the year – the winter season. Prolonged hours of darkness provide the perfect conditions for opportunistic crime. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the trade association for the professional security industry in the UK, therefore urges homeowners and businesses to stay safe this winter, by adopting simple and easy to implement precautions.

“Throughout the years we have definitely seen an increase in opportunistic crime during the winter season, largely due to the darker nights and properties being left empty for prolonged periods of time during the festive season.” says James Kelly, Chief Executive of the BSIA. “However, often by simply adopting straightforward and commonsense steps it is possible to dramatically reduce the likelihood of these incidents occurring.

“Firstly, it is important to ensure that all gates, doors and windows are properly locked at all times. This applies both to sites left vacant or to occupied properties, especially in the evenings. Remember also to check all your physical security equipment such as locks and barriers to make sure they are still effective, and replace any damaged or poor quality items”.

James continues: “Should your home or business have electronic security measures in place such as CCTV, also remember to adjust the settings to match the change in natural lighting times. If remote monitoring and lighting are controlled separately, for example, ensure you put the timer back on the lighting after British Summer Time ends. Left out of sync, the monitoring will come on but there will be an unwanted gap before the lighting follows. Moreover, ensure adequate lighting is in place. Having vital areas of a site in darkness is far from ideal and, by the same token, too much light in the wrong place, for instance shining directly into cameras blinding them, is not advisable.

“Finally”, he warns, “if you are leaving buildings unattended for long periods of time during the festive season, take precautionary measures such as closing the curtains but leaving a light on, to deter intruders without allowing them to look inside your property, or ask a trusted neighbour or family member to keep an eye on your estate whilst you are away”.

“There are plenty of security measures available on the market to help you secure your home or business, such as locks for windows and doors, bells or monitored intruder alarms, CCTV, property marking systems and/or security lighting, however, the quality of such measures is paramount to sure their effectiveness in keeping would be intruders away from the premises. Before choosing which solution is right for you, you should consider how the burglar could gain entry to your property, and seek expert advice where necessary”, concludes Mr Kelly.

The BSIA website provides details of member companies that comply with relevant British and European Standards. Search for a member at www.bsia.co.uk/company-finder.

Dartford security director ordered to pay £25,000

Thursday, October 6, 2011 Comments Off by Debbie Kelly

A security director has been ordered to pay almost £25,000 after being found guilty of working unlicensed and failing to provide the Security Industry Authority with information.
Celestine Okogwu, 52, had his licence revoked by the SIA, but continued to work as director of Dartford-based Absolute Guards UK Limited, supplying security guards to a site in Northolt.
SIA investigators contacted Okogwu asking him to provide details of the company. When no response was received an investigation was launched, during which he failed to attend an interview and failed to provide material to document the company’s activities and to whom it supplied guards.
During prosecution by the SIA, Okogwu failed to attend court on three occasions, but was convicted in his absence at Dartford Magistrates’ Court and a warrant for his arrest was issued. He was sentenced on 7 September 2011.
Okogwu, of Birbetts Road, Mottingham, south east London, was fined £3,000 for working as an unlicensed director and £10,000 for two counts of failing to provide information to the SIA. He was also ordered to pay costs of £11,731.86 and a £15 victim surcharge. The fines and costs totalled £24,746.86.
SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon said: “We are pleased with the outcome of this investigation. Mr Okogwu was not compliant with the law and demonstrated an unwillingness to cooperate. This case sends a strong message to non-compliant individuals that courts take such failings seriously and are willing to hand out strong penalties.”
The SIA is continuing its investigations into Absolute Guards UK Limited.

Security Supplier Subject To Curfew After Being Found Guilty Of Supplying Unlicensed Guards

Monday, September 5, 2011 Comments Off by Fred Milner

A security supplier has been electronically tagged after being found guilty of supplying unlicensed security guards and failing to provide material to the Security Industry Authority.

Duncan Thorburn, 54, who traded as Thor Security, based in Bolsover, Derbyshire, was found guilty of 17 offences of supplying unlicensed security operatives, two counts of failing to provide material to the SIA, and one count of making a false statement to the SIA.

Thorburn, of Newark Road, Newark, was in addition a director of Thor Security Services Limited, a former SIA Approved Contractor. Seventeen additional counts of supplying unlicensed security guards against Thorburn as director of Thor Security Services Limited were dismissed because the court determined that this company was not the relevant company at the time the unlicensed guards were supplied.

During their initial enquiries, SIA investigators uncovered irregularities in the paperwork submitted by Thorburn. The investigation went on to identify unlicensed security guards George and Kevin Hannah who were being deployed by Thorburn through Thor Security. George and Kevin Hannah were consequently prosecuted by the SIA and fined for working without an SIA licence in October 2010.

Thorburn attempted to hide the fact that he was using unlicensed security guards by failing to provide material to the SIA, altering documentation and falsely claiming that some material was routinely destroyed.

Thorburn entered a not guilty plea in June and this was maintained throughout the course of the trial at North East Derbyshire and Dales Magistrates’ Court in Chesterfield, which concluded on 23 August. Thorburn argued that his sole trading entity Thor Security held SIA Approved Contractor status, as well as Thor Security Services Limited, and thus he was entitled to supply unlicensed guards under Licence Dispensation Notices. He also claimed he was unaware the guards were unlicensed. Both arguments were dismissed by the judge.

The prosecution was able to prove that Thorburn had knowingly and regularly deployed 10 unlicensed security guards to seven customers between December 2008 and June 2010, mainly at construction sites, industrial units and in providing a mobile security alarm response service. The sites were in Derbyshire (Tibshelf, Chesterfield, Derby, Castle Donnington and Bolsover), Yorkshire (Sheffield, Rotherham) and Nottinghamshire (Mansfield).

Thorburn was sentenced to a six-month community order, during which time he is required to observe an electronic tagging curfew between 9pm and 7am, and was ordered to pay £1000 towards prosecution costs.

Of Thorburn’s deployment of the unlicensed guards, Judge Caroline Goulborn said Thorburn was “in control of the company” and therefore had “ultimate responsibility.” Thorburn could not rely on the defence of not knowing the guards were unlicensed because he “had sole responsibility for hiring, firing and training”, and the evidence of witnesses was “overwhelming,” she added.

Of his failure to provide material to the SIA, Judge Goulborn said: “In my view, that was an attempt by Thorburn to try and hide the fact that his company was using unlicensed guards and I find no reasonable excuse for Thorburn’s non compliance. “Thorburn deliberately kept back information from the SIA and that documentation which had been available was deliberately destroyed, a serious offence.”

SIA Head of Investigation Sara Brennan said: “This is the first SIA prosecution where electronic tagging has been a penalty and I am satisfied with the decision of the Court. This investigation uncovered a large number of offences, which demonstrated a prolonged willingness to supply unlicensed security guards, presenting a potential risk to the public.

“A thorough investigation was not deterred by incriminating information being doctored by Duncan Thorburn prior to being handed to the SIA. A number of witnesses courageously provided evidence on behalf of the SIA, which led to this conviction.”

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SIA launches new enforcement page

Friday, April 8, 2011 Comments Off by Fred Milner

The SIA has launched a new page highlighting enforcement activities led or assisted by investigators from the Compliance and Investigation team.

The ‘Enforcement Operations’ page contains details of locations where operations took place, the number of sites inspected, details of partners involved and the total number of offences found.

Director of Compliance and Enforcement Dave Humphries said: “An integral part of the Compliance and Investigation team’s remit is to work closely with police, local authorities, training providers, trade associations, industry representatives and other government agencies to maintain high levels of compliance within the private security industry. I am pleased that we will be able to highlight this important aspect of our work through the new page on the website.”

The new page can be found in the ‘Enforcement and Penalties‘ section of the SIA website.

SIA Website

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Operation Nevada Reveals Major Training Malpractice

Tuesday, February 22, 2011 Comments Off by Fred Milner

Four London-based training providers can no longer provide SIA licence-linked training and 300 qualifications have been withdrawn following a wide-scale investigation into training malpractice.

After the SIA received intelligence about the centres, Operation Nevada was launched involving SIA investigators, the Metropolitan Police, awarding bodies (HABC, EDI, Edexcel), the qualifications regulator OfQual, and the UK Border Agency. One individual has been arrested by police on suspicion of fraud, and the police and the UKBA are continuing to investigate various offences.

Unannounced visits led by the SIA took place at training providers in locations across London and South East of England on 12 November 2010. Evidence was found of serious training malpractice, such as the centres registering candidates and awarding them certificates when they had not sat the examination.

As a result, four London-based training providers – Divine College, St Joseph’s College of Science and Technology, ME Training and Inter-Continental College – have had their approval to provide training withdrawn by their awarding bodies.

More than 300 certificates awarded to candidates registered with these centres have been withdrawn. Of these qualifications, 69 had been used to obtain an SIA licence (Door Supervision), all of which have been suspended. These licence holders have a 90 day period following the suspension to gain a valid qualification, after which time their licence will be revoked.

SIA Director of Compliance and Enforcement Dave Humphries said: “Investigations into allegations of training malpractice are a key part of our compliance activity. In the interest of public protection it is vital that all operatives working in the security industry are properly trained to deal with the demands of their role.

“This operation involved very successful joint working with partner organisations and has provided a model that will be used again in the future to close down training providers where there is evidence of misconduct.”

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Local Street Crime Information

Thursday, February 3, 2011 Comments Off by Fred Milner

A new national website has launched to give you more local information about crime and anti-social behaviour at a street level. The online map will allow you to view figures for all crime as well as burglary, robbery, violence, vehicle crime, other crime and anti-social behaviour in your area, at the touch of a button.

The maps display dots which mark the approximate location where a crime or incidence of anti-social behaviour has been reported to the police. To ensure privacy of individuals, incidents of crime or anti-social behaviour are mapped to a point on, or near, the street where it happened.

You can see the site at www.police.uk. Enter your postcode for more details on crime and anti-social behaviour where you live.

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