An east London training centre has had its approval to provide security qualifications withdrawn following a multi-agency investigation.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the Security Industry Authority and awarding body Edexcel visited the head office of Hamptons Training Ltd in Forest Gate on Thursday [14 July] following allegations of malpractice.
Operation Grampian was launched after the SIA received intelligence about widespread training malpractice at the centre. Edexcel carried out forensic analysis of test papers, which revealed evidence that papers were being fraudulently completed.
Following the unannounced visit, Edexcel imposed a Level 5 sanction – an immediate withdrawal of Hamptons Training’s approval to offer Edexcel’s security qualifications.
Where it is proved that security qualifications were obtained through training malpractice, individuals will have their qualifications withdrawn and those who have used the qualification to gain the SIA licence will have their licence revoked.
SIA Head of Investigation Neil Diamond said: “This investigation is the culmination of joint partnership working and intelligence-sharing between the SIA, the police, Edexcel and the qualifications regulator Ofqual to ensure the integrity of training qualifications and SIA licensing is maintained.
“We take allegations of training malpractice seriously and will be taking action against those found to be holding SIA licences that were obtained fraudulently through training malpractice.”
An Edexcel spokesperson said: “We expect any training centre we work with to meet high standards. Where investigations by Edexcel or other authorities discover wrongdoing, we use a range of sanctions to uphold the quality of our qualifications.”
DI Anne-Marie Waller from the Metropolitan Police said: “This operation is another good example of continuing joint working. The withdrawal of Edexcel’s approval for this company supports our ongoing work to make London’s night time economy safe for all to enjoy.”