Sia News – Guard Detected Working With Cloned Licence
All but one of the security guards inspected during an operation at sites connected to the 2014 Commonwealth Games held a valid SIA licence.
The Security Industry Authority carried out the operation on Thursday [10 March], visiting 15 sites in Glasgow and Edinburgh to ensure contracted security staff were adhering to the law by holding and displaying a valid SIA licence.
In total, 21 security staff were checked – 20 operatives were properly licensed. However, one security guard was found working with a cloned SIA licence and officers from Lothian and Borders Police were called to the site because the guard fled the site. The police are in possession of the cloned licence and enquiries are being made. The SIA also warned two security guards for failing to notify the SIA of a change of their address, which is a breach of licence conditions.
Head of Investigation Sara Hesp said:
“There is a wealth of construction and regeneration being carried out in preparation for the Commonwealth Games. It is important that security provision remains a priority to ensure the success of the Games and more importantly, that those sites and the public are being kept safe by trained, qualified and SIA-licensed security staff.
“We are working with our partners regarding the issues found on Thursday and we will be making enquiries with the relevant security companies. Operations like this will continue in the build up to the Games.”
By law, security guards working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. This means they have passed an approved training qualification and undergone vetting such as criminal record and identity checks. Those who manage, supervise and/or employ individuals who engage in licensable activity must also hold at least a non-front line licence.
In October 2010, the Government announced a “phased transition to a new regulatory regime” for the private security industry; the SIA will no longer be a Non-Departmental Public Body. The SIA is currently working with the Government and security industry to plan how private security in the UK will be regulated in the future. The new regulation will build on the successes of SIA licensing and the Approved Contractor Scheme.
There will be no major changes to SIA regulation or the ACS before the London Olympics 2012. Currently the Private Security Industry Act 2001 remains law. It is a criminal offence for security operatives and those deploying them to work in licensable activities without a valid SIA licence. The SIA and our partners continue to ensure that the law is properly enforced. For further information about the Security Industry Authority or to sign up for email updates visit www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).