The operation was conducted in partnership with the Security Industry Authority on the evening of Friday 11 July. Officers worked through the night conducting checks on door staff at all of the city’s pubs and clubs. Two illegal door staff were discovered as a result of the operation, and they’ll now face prosecution.
Police licensing officer PC Guy Hall commented: “The police have a good working relationship with local door staff and their licensees, who do not support the employment of illegal persons. Security Industry Authority licensed door staff help raise professionalism and skills levels within the private security industry. In turn, this helps to promote and spread Best Practice. Door staff are vital for keeping alcohol-related crime and disorder in the city under scrutiny and in check.”
PC Hall went on to say: “Any door staff found to be working illegally will face prosecution, and any person found employing illegal door staff will also be subject to enforcement action. We’ll conduct further operations and, together with our partners, we’ll endeavour to remove all illegal door staff from the ‘front line'”.
Working in positions of trust
Christy Hopkins – the SIA’s head of investigation on this operation – added: “These checks showed that the majority of door staff in Gloucester’s city centre pubs and clubs were working legally with SIA licences. However, two doormen were found to be working outside of the law. It’s imperative that door staff and those people deploying them do not flout the law. This operation sends a very clear message that, like us, our partners at the Gloucestershire Police will not tolerate unlicensed door staff working in positions of trust. More operations like this will follow.”
Licensed door staff may be easily identified as they’re all now required to display their SIA licence/badge. The police service and the Local Victuallers Association support the use of high visibility armbands which not only help to identify the door person but also allow the clear display of the badge, which is now a legal requirement. Members of the Local Victuallers Association can obtain such armbands by contacting their chairman.
Peterborough officers found guilty of offences
Three security officers have been found guilty at Peterborough Magistrates Court of committing offences under Section 3(1) of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (working without a licence from the SIA).
Clive Roy Fisher (41) of 15 Linden Hall, Wisbech, 54-year-old Richard Norman Olding of 16 Lawson Avenue, Stanground and Nicholas Field, residing at 21 Broorkfurlong, Ravensthorpe were found working illegally at various Peterborough City Council sites in January of this year.
The operatives were employed by Central Security (East Anglia). The three were given conditional discharges and ordered to pay costs of GB pound 245 each.
John Montague – head of the Regulator’s formal investigations team – commented: “Instead of obtaining an SIA licence to work legally, these security officers flouted the law, were caught and have now been fined. Buyers of security services can check that the security company they use is fully compliant with the law and only deploying SIA licensed operatives to sites by checking the Register of Licence Holders on the SIA’s web site.”
Adding to Montague’s words, Peterborough City Council’s director of strategic resources John Harrison said: “When Central Security was contracted to carry out security duties for Peterborough City Council, the terms of the contract stated that the company was legally required to provide licensed personnel. As soon as it was brought to our attention that these three men were not licensed, they were no longer allowed to work at City Council premises. We have co-operated fully and wholly with the SIA to bring them to justice. Subsequently, we’ve also changed our procedures to ensure that this never happens again. We’re very happy with our new security supplier.”
Full report on enforcement activity
The Security Industry Authority’s online enforcement pages have been enhanced to show the actions taken as a result of intelligence received by the Regulator.
In June, the SIA received 1,187 pieces of intelligence, which included:
- 594 pieces of information sent directly to the Regulator by members of the public and individuals working within the private security sector
- 75 intelligence reports provided through Crimestoppers
- 371 pieces of information provided by the police and other law enforcement agencies
This information will now be updated on a monthly basis.