On 3 November Stephen and Brett Stocks of Fort Security plead guilty and were sentenced for working without a licence at Sheffield Magistrates Court.
An investigation began when the South Yorkshire police arrested an unlicensed Door Supervisor in December 2015. The unlicensed operative admitted the offence but refused to state who had employed him. Further enquiries revealed that he worked for Fort Security.
It was during this investigation that it became apparent that Stephen Stocks was responsible for supplying two unlicensed security operatives in June to the Eroica Festival in Derbyshire.
SIA Head of Formal Investigations Nathan Salmon said:
“These individuals were brought to the attention of the SIA in 2014. They were warned; however it would appear that these warnings were ignored and offending continued. This resulted in a further investigation which concluded with their successful conviction.”
Further enquiries revealed that Brett Stocks, the son of Stephen Stocks, was also managing and supervising an operative on this contract, despite not having any type of SIA licence. Brett Stocks has never held an SIA licence and this amounts to a Section 3 offence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (PSIA).
During the investigation, it also became clear that Brett Stocks acted as a manager and supervisor to a security operative supplied to Eroica Festival, despite being unlicensed. He denied supplying, supervising, or managing anyone, and stated that he had no business connection to Fort Security. Stephen Stocks was also formally interviewed. Other than confirming he was the father of Brett Stocks, he maintained his right to silence.
In addition, when the SIA requested further information under section 19 of the PSIA (2001) Stephen Stocks did not cooperate and this information remains outstanding.
Stephen Stocks was found guilty of supplying unlicensed security operatives, a Section 5 PSIA (2001) offence and for failing to provide information as requested under section 19 PSIA (2001). He was fined £600, and ordered to pay a £60 Victim Surcharge and costs of £3,000.
Brett Stocks was found guilty of acting as a manager or a supervisor of a security operative engaged in licensable conduct, a Section 3 PSIA offence (2001). He was fined £500 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £50 and costs of £1,300.