Operation Lime took place on the evening of Saturday 2 August as part of an ongoing initiative by the Regulator, the police service and licensing officers to ensure those working the doors hold a valid SIA licence. 98% of the door staff checked were found to hold a valid licence.
In all, 12 premises were visited and 45 door supervisors inspected. 44 of them held valid SIA licences. One door supervisor was reported for possible prosecution for working without an SIA licence. Four individuals were warned for not correctly displaying their licence.
Speaking about the project, Sharon Roberts – an SIA head of investigation – commented: “We’re pleased to see that nearly all door supervisors in this Bristol operation were abiding by the law and were SIA licensed. We are grateful to the police for their support on what proved to be a very busy night.”
SIA door supervisor licences were introduced in the South West in June 2004. It has been a legal requirement for door staff to hold SIA licences since September 2004.
Direct debit facility for bulk licence applications
The SIA has introduced a new direct debit facility offering security companies an easy way to pay for licence fees submitted under the bulk application service. The new service offers company users:
- a simpler and quicker way to pay than a cheque or credit card
- no need for refunds on rejected licence applications as only the correct payment is taken
- quick notice via e-mail of the payment taken with no delay in processing the applications
- easy reconciliation to bank accounts using the updated online batch applications tracker
The SIA will contact company users offering them the chance to register for the service. o register as a company user, and to benefit from this, and other company facilities, call 0844 892 0925 or visit the web link on the right hand side of this page
The Regulator is keen to point out that this facility is only available to companies registered with the SIA as a company user. In addition, the full licence fee must be paid for the applications accepted. Payment cannot be made in instalments.
More Peterborough officers found guilty
Yesterday afternoon at Peterborough Magistrates Court, two security officers were found guilty of offences under Section 3(1) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (working without an SIA licence).
Gary Privett (54) of 2 Northborough Road, Milking Nook and Nigel Barks (60) of 89 Whitwell, Paston in Peterborough were found working illegally at Peterborough City Council Nursery Lane Depot. Both had previously received a Section 3(1) warning for working unlicensed in November 2007.
Privett was fined GB pound 200 and ordered to pay costs of GB pound 415. For his part, Barks was fined GB pound 50 (for working unlicensed on one occasion) and ordered to pay costs of GB pound 115.
In July, three men working at Peterborough City Council sites were also found guilty of the same offence, given conditional discharges and ordered to pay costs of GB pound 245 each. In both cases, all the officers were employed by Central Security (East Anglia).
Nigel Davies, an SIA head of investigations, said: “It’s unfortunate that the first warning was not heeded, but if you break the law you have to accept that there will be consequences. I’d advise buyers of security services to check the Register of Licence Holders on the SIA web site. This is to ensure that the security company they use is fully compliant with the law and deploys SIA licensed operatives.”
David Denson – Peterborough City Council’s head of operations for city services which runs the Nursery Lane Depot – commented: “When Central Security was contracted to carry out security duties for Peterborough City Council the terms of the contract stated that they were legally required to provide licensed personnel. As soon as it came to our attention that these men were not licensed, they were no longer allowed to work at the city council. We invited the SIA on to council premises to investigate thoroughly and have continued to work with the Regulator to bring them to justice.”