Unlicensed Security Director Ordered to Pay £2,400 After Guilty Plea

Unlicensed Security Director Ordered to Pay £2,400 After Guilty Plea

20 March 2013



A Northamptonshire security director has been ordered to pay £2,400 and sentenced to a 250 hour community punishment order after pleading guilty of working illegally.

Ian Matthew Taylor, 40, ran Shadow Protection Services Ltd, supplying door staff to venues in the Wellingborough area.

The Security Industry Authority was passed intelligence about Shadow Protection Services Ltd. During on-going enquiries, investigators determined that Taylor had illegally supplied an unlicensed door supervisor to Rafferty's and The Kingfisher, in Wellingborough, between 31 December 2010 and 19 November 2011. This was despite neither of them holding a valid SIA licence.

Investigators gathered evidence including signing in sheets, which indicated that both Taylor and the door supervisor had been working illegally.

During his interview, Taylor denied working after his licence had expired in May 2009. He also denied being involved in the running of the business; this claim was contradicted by witnesses.

At Wellingborough Magistrates' Court yesterday [19 March], Taylor, of High Street, Wellingborough, Northampton, pleaded guilty of using and working as an unlicensed security operative.

Taylor was sentenced to a 12 month community punishment order during which he is to undertake 250 hours of unpaid work. Taylor was also ordered to pay £2,400 contribution towards prosecution costs.

SIA Head of Investigation, Nathan Salmon said:

"Door supervisor licensing exists to protect the public from harm, ensuring that only suitable and vetted individuals undertake this valuable role.

"This prosecution highlights the significance the courts place on only correctly licensed individuals working in the industry. It identifies that those supplying unlicensed operatives present a risk not only to the public, but also to the livelihood of the licensees engaging their services."
Notes to Editors:

Shadow Protection Services Ltd is no longer operating.
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.
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).