An unlicensed security officer has been found guilty of working without an SIA licence and fined following a hearing at Newcastle Magistrates Court.
Sorin Popa was employed by Romaguard Security (UK) as a security officer but investigations by the Security Industry Authority revealed he did not have the necessary licence to work on a legal basis.
Popa failed to attend the hearing and, in his absence, was fined GB pound 250 for working without an SIA licence, GB pound 50 for making a false statement to the SIA and ordered to pay a GB pound 15 victim surcharge.
This conviction was part of a wider investigation in which the director of the company, Gary Armstrong, was fined over GB pound 1500 in February for working as an unlicensed security director.
At the time, Armstrong said in his defence that he was “fully aware” both he and Popa needed a licence, and that he had “told a couple of white lies to cover his back.”
SIA head of investigation Nathan Salmon said: “I’m pleased with the outcome of this investigation. Popa did not attempt to gain an SIA licence to enable him to work legally in the security industry. When deciding whether they need a licence, a person’s job title is not relevant. It’s the duties they undertake in that role. The evidence in this investigation showed that Popa was undertaking security activities which required him to be licensed.”
Salmon added: “The SIA will continue to robustly pursue such cases where companies and individuals are found to be breaking the law.”
Popa entered no plea to the allegations against him, and failed to attend court on 28 February 2012 for the start of his trial. An arrest warrant was issued for him at that time, and authorities have been unable to locate him since, in turn leading to a conviction in his absence.
