A Derby director has been ordered to pay £14,000 after pleading guilty to working illegally as an unlicensed security director and failing to provide information to the Security Industry Authority.
Mark Jason Lowe, 39, was sole trader of Progressive Security, and also the sole director and shareholder of Fortis Security (UK) Ltd.
Through both companies, Lowe supplied door supervisors to bars and clubs in Derby city centre. However, he was working illegally as he did not hold the necessary SIA licence to supply operatives.
SIA investigators requested information about the company but Lowe ignored the demands. As a result, he was investigated on suspicion of operating as an unlicensed director and failing to provide information to the SIA.
At Derby Magistrates’ Court on Friday [06 Jan], Lowe, of Collingham Gardens, Derby, pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging as an unlicensed director of Fortis Security (UK) Ltd.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging as an unlicensed employer of staff at Progressive Security, and two counts of failing to provide information to the SIA.
Lowe was fined £2,000 for all eight offences. He was also ordered to pay the SIA costs of £12,000, in part because his answering ‘no comment’ in interview had led to a longer investigation and therefore higher costs.
SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon said: “I am pleased with the outcome of this investigation. SIA investigators attempted to work with Mr Lowe to resolve alleged licensing offences; however, he did not wish to work with the SIA.
“Mr Lowe continued this approach throughout the subsequent investigation, and attempting to mislead us in our enquiries proved to be a costly error. In addition to this large penalty, his conviction will mean that he will no longer be able to operate in the private security industry.”