London director fined
09TH APRIL 2014

A security director and the company she was running were found guilty of security offences on April 3 at Inner London Crown Court. The offences were found during pre-London Olympic Games compliance checks undertaken by the Security Industry Authority.

Platinum UK Facilities Management Ltd (Platinum), and its director Mrs Lolo Daniels, were fined a total of £11,000 and ordered to pay costs of £40,000. The court heard that in July 2012, SIA investigators carried out checks on security companies that were preparing to supply security to the Games and satellite events. The SIA checks were to ensure all security operatives were correctly SIA licensed.

During a check on the guard company, SIA investigators visited a construction site in Reading. Investigators found an individual, deployed by Platinum, who was working without an SIA licence. Further enquiries also found that he did not have the right to remain in the UK. Later the SIA made requests for information on Platinum’s staff and customers from Daniels. The information she provided was found to be inconsistent and incomplete.

In sentencing, Judge Madge said: “Parliament’s intention was that companies and individuals working in the security industry must have high standards. The public and customers must know people who are guarding premises are trustworthy and licensed. The public put great trust in security guards who often guard sites with valuable contents. In this case there is the aggravating feature that an illegal over stayer was being employed. The company and Mrs Daniels were effectively encouraging breaches of immigration law by employing someone not entitled to work.”

Lolo Daniels, of Woodbrook Road, Abbeywood, London, was found guilty of supplying a security operative and failing to provide information to the SIA, contrary to section 5 and 19 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Daniels was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000. She has also been disqualified from working as a company director for two years. Platinum UK Facilities Management Ltd was found guilty of supplying an unlicensed security operative contrary to section 5 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The company was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £20,000.

Head of Investigations, Nathan Salmon, said after the case: “This investigation came about because of the work undertaken by the SIA to ensure security operatives were working legally in the run up to the 2012 London Olympics Games. The penalty for both the company and Mrs Daniels are significant and reflect the seriousness of their offending; this should serve as a warning that illegal activity such as this is unacceptable to the SIA and to the public.”

Paper-Based Licence Applications to Stop

On 24 March, we stopped issuing paper-based licence applications and from 7th April, we will no longer accept the paper-based applications.* this will have an impact on how you can apply or renew an SIA licence.

The private security industry told us they wanted a modern, more efficient, and faster system of applying for new licences. We listened, and worked with the industry to provide it. The new licence application service with the Post Office is faster and easier; reduces errors and discourages fraud; and also saves the applicant having to spend money on photographs and postage.              

The Post Office will complete licence applications by;

• Checking and returning the applicants documents;
• Taking a digital photograph and an electronic signature; and
• Taking payment of the application fee.

The service is already a success and has become the most popular way to apply for a licence, so from 7 April that will be the way for an individual to apply for an SIA licence - any old-style paper applications we receive after 7 April will be returned to the applicant.
Individuals
The only way to apply for a new licence will be to fill in your application online at the SIA website; you will then be told which identity and other documents to take to one of over 750 post offices around the country to complete your application.

Licence renewals: Individuals renewing their licence can use our telephone renewals service, as now.

Fill in your application online or read more about telephone renewals by clicking on sia.org

* Note: New licence applicants residing in Northern Ireland or overseas can complete a licence application online at the SIA website as usual. They may then accept an option to contact the SIA to arrange for the application to be sent to the SIA.

Certificates Withdrawn Amid Training Malpractice Allegations
Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 4:27PM

Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) has withdrawn a number of certificates awarded via training providers Get Licensed and Adult Learning Network Ltd (who previously operated as AAB Training) following an investigation into training malpractice.

HABC has withdrawn the physical intervention unit that applicants took to gain the Level 2 Award in Door Supervision, making the qualification invalid.

In total, 1,001 certificates that were awarded to candidates registered with the two centres have been withdrawn. Of these qualifications, 654 had been used to obtain an SIA licence. The SIA has written to licence holders to explain that they have a 28 day period to gain a valid qualification or their licence will be revoked.

Dave Humphries, Director Compliance, Intelligence and Communication said:
"The SIA, our awarding organisation partners and the qualifications regulator Ofqual take malpractice issues around training very seriously. These allegations came to light earlier this year that suggested that training providers Get Licensed and ALN were involved in malpractice between October 2010 and February 2011.
Whilst training malpractice is not endemic, this recent investigation demonstrates that we will not allow people to think that they can get away with it."

Jason Sprenger, HABC Chief Executive said:
"HABC received allegations of malpractice within ALN, AAB Training and Get Licensed. Upon receipt of the allegations, we carried out a full and thorough investigation in partnership with the SIA. This included analysis of test papers and interviews with tutors and learners. We found substantiated evidence of malpractice and consequently withdrew more than 1,000 HABC Level 2 Awards in Door Supervision across all three organisations.
"HABC is firmly committed to ensuring the integrity of our qualifications is maintained at all times and takes any abuse very seriously. We will not hesitate to take immediate and proportionate action against any centre found to be actively participating in malpractice."

HABC has set up a helpline for the affected learners. The telephone number is 01302 363 154. SIA licence holders must correspond with the SIA; if they do not their licence may be revoked.

Notes to Editors:

• Get Licensed is a referral mechanism/website so they do not have a specific address. However, Get Licensed House was located at The Broadway in Southall, London. Get Licensed is no longer an approved HABC centre.

• ALN has a registered address in Mitcham in Surrey and a trading address at Berkley Square House in London. ALN cancelled its approval with HABC before it could be withdrawn.

• The SIA sets the specifications for the licence-linked qualifications, but does not provide training. The awarding bodies develop the qualifications, and the training courses are provided by training providers. For more information on these roles visit: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/trainers

• The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.

• The SIA is working in consultation with the industry to draw up plans for a "phased transition to a new regulatory regime". Future regulation is subject to approval by Parliament and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Scotland, but focuses on the licensing of businesses. It remains 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 (SIA uk).

Advice on photographers issued to security officers
Thursday, June 28, 2012 at 6:53PM

City of London Police have issued guidance to remind security personnel to be wary of displaying behaviour “that people may find intimidating or aggressive” when dealing with photographers who they feel might be suspicious.

“The vast majority of people taking photographs are doing so for entirely innocent purposes, and the fact that someone is taking photographs does not in itself indicate hostile reconnaissance or other suspicious behaviour.”

The advice was distributed in the City of London’s Business & Community Bulletin, a weekly update sent out to people across the City of London and containing information regarding terrorist activity and informing the public on how to report an incident.

The advice continued: “Security officers should be aware of the impact their actions have on members of the public and avoid behaviour that people may find intimidating or aggressive.”
The words of wisdom come as a number of high-profile incidents of photographers being incorrectly asked to stop filming from public property have made it into the public domain, such as last month’s incident at Olympic venue the O2 (or North Greenwich Arena).

The advice states clearly:
“If a photographer is standing in a public place, photographing or filming a private building, security officers have no right to prevent them from taking photographs. People do not need a permit to film or photograph from public places. This includes where a person is standing in a public place but photographing or filming private property.

“If a photographer is standing on private property, they may take photographs unless such activity is expressly prohibited by the landlord or requires a permit which has not been sought or granted. In this instance, a security officer may inform the individual of this and politely request that they cease taking photographs. The security officer can request that the person leaves the premises and may use reasonable force if necessary to effect this.

“Security officers cannot delete images, require them to be deleted, demand to see images or seize cameras, nor can they obstruct individuals from taking photographs.”

Security personnel are still encouraged to be mindful of suspicious activity and that such behaviour should be resolved either by reporting the incident to police without delay, or through polite questioning.

A security officer can ask a suspicious person to account for their actions but powers of stop, examination and seizure under Section 43 of the Terrorist Act 2000 only apply to police.

Furthermore, security officers don't have the power to detain a person for suspicious behaviour, even if the police have been called, the advice states.

Level 2 Award in Upskilling Door Supervisors qualification.
Friday, June 1, 2012 at 2:17PM

In March 2012 the SIA announced the intention to require existing door supervisors who had achieved the pre-QCF Door Supervision qualifications (for example the National Certificate for Door Supervision) to undertake additional training in order to renew their licence.

It is anticipated that this requirement will be introduced late in 2012 and will provide you with the opportunity to increase levels of training within your Centre. The SIA are expected to release a statement shortly confirming when this will be introduced as a mandatory requirement.

HABC have been involved in discussions with the SIA to develop a new qualification that will meet these new requirements for SIA Door Supervisor licence renewals, and the HABC Level 2 Award in Upskilling Door Supervisors (QCF) (600/5777/4) will be launched in June 2012.

HABC are one of the first Awarding Organisations to receive Ofqual approval to offer the Level 2 Award in Upskilling Door Supervisors qualification.

The new qualification comprises the following two mandatory units of assessment:
• Physical Intervention Skills for the Private Security Industry; and
• Safety Awareness for Door Supervisors.

The new Safety Awareness for Door Supervisors unit of assessment and workbook have been developed to cover the following subjects within the security sector:
• Counter Terrorism
• First Aid Awareness
• Dealing with Children and Young People.

The workbook will be available very shortly.

The Safety Awareness for Door Supervisors unit will be assessed by a multiple choice examination which will be externally set and internally marked. The Physical Intervention unit will continue to be assessed by ongoing practical assessment and true/false written questions. Successful learners must achieve a pass in both units of assessment.

Wheel clamping
Friday, June 1, 2012 at 2:12PM

Latest SIA News

SIA Outlines Licensing Arrangements in the Lead Up to Government Wheel Clamping Ban

It has been announced by the Government today that vehicle immobilisation activity will be an offence in England and Wales from October 2012.

Until this change comes into force, anyone undertaking vehicle immobilisation activity must ensure that they are properly licensed to do so. Holders of an SIA Vehicle Immobiliser license that expires before this time must either:

Cease this activity on expiry of the license; or
Renew the license if they wish to undertake vehicle immobilisation in England and Wales until October.
From October it will be an offence in England and Wales to clamp, tow or immobilise a vehicle without lawful authority. SIA licensing of vehicle immobilisation does not apply in Scotland. Vehicle immobilisation in Northern Ireland will continue to be subject to Security Industry Authority licensing.

The SIA requires compliance with the law at all times and in the months prior to the ban will continue enforcement work, along with Trading Standards and the Police. Anyone immobilising a vehicle without an SIA license is committing an offence and risking prosecution, as are landowners who allow unlicensed operatives to immobilise vehicles on their land.

Physical intervention training for door staff to become mandatory
Friday, March 16, 2012 at 2:14PM

Following SIA recommendations, and in the interest of public safety, ministers have agreed that physical intervention skills training will become mandatory for all door supervisors in the UK.

Although this training is already a compulsory part of the updated, nationally-recognised door supervision qualification for new applicants introduced in June 2010, it's currently not a requirement for those who qualified before this date.

Knowing how to escort people from premises safely is important to door supervisors, who may have to deal with this type of situation as part of their role.

Being trained in the appropriate techniques and how to use them will help door staff to manage difficult situations, in turn minimising the risk of injury to members of the public and to themselves.

 The instruction module will include physical intervention skills training and cover other areas such as considerations in dealing with 14 to18 year-olds and First Aid awareness.

Once the requirement is introduced, door supervisors who trained prior to the introduction of the new qualification in 2010 will need to pass this module before they can renew their licence.

Timescales and necessary arrangements

The Security Industry Authority is now working closely with the Home Office to determine the timescales and arrangements necessary to introduce this mandatory requirement at the earliest opportunity.

 At least six months notice will be given before its introduction so that licence holders have time to undertake the training before their licence expires.

 Bill Fox of Maybo, which has been at the forefront of the campaign to introduce safer physical intervention, commented: “This is welcome news for all those who have seen the difference credible physical intervention training makes to the safety of both customers and door supervisors."

He added: “It's a great outcome for the retail operators, their staff and customers. Credit is due to the forward-thinking companies that have campaigned for 12 years for this day from the first BII initiative and, indeed, to the Security Industry Authority. The Regulator has listened and delivered.”

 Currently the Private Security Industry Act 2001 remains law. It's a criminal offence for security operatives and those deploying them to work in licensable activities without a valid SIA licence.

The SIA and its partner organisations continue to ensure that the law is properly enforced.