An unlicensed Huddersfield security director was found working illegally yesterday [15th March] when SIA investigators carried out a series of visits to CCTV suites in the North of England.
SIA investigators visited a security company’s office in Huddersfield and after being refused entry to the premises, investigators invoked their powers of entry under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Once inside the premises, investigators found that the director of the security company did not hold an SIA licence. He was interviewed under caution for the offence and further enforcement work will follow.
Two other businesses in Manchester and Middlesbrough are also subject to further enquiries relating to employees and directors of the businesses.
The inspections were carried out to test the compliance of CCTV businesses and targeted monitoring suites based in the offices of security companies.
Visits were made to nine businesses in Manchester, Wigan, Preston, Huddersfield, Bradford, Selby, Middlesbrough and Blyth. In total 21 individuals were inspected, 20 SIA-licensed operatives were found to be working legally and one unlicensed person was found.
SIA Head of Investigation Neil Diamond said: “We will always ask for permission to gain entry to premises such as these and in the majority of cases, businesses consent to this. However, SIA investigators do have a statutory power of entry to such premises and we will not hesitate to exercise this if we feel that, as in this case, our enquiries are being deliberately obstructed in order to hide offending.