Investigators from the SIA supported officers from Strathclyde Police, Lothian & Borders Police, UK Border Agency and the Department of Work and Pensions, to target rogue security firms working at construction sites across the Strathclyde and Lothian & Borders areas.
For the March 4 operation, the partners pooled intelligence to tackle companies believed to have links to serious and organised crime. Investigators targeted security operatives at 202 construction sites which were secured by 37 security companies.
-120 licensable security operatives were checked
-97 held SIA licences
-23 operatives were reported for working without an SIA licence
-1 manager was reported for deploying unlicensed operatives
-4 operatives were reported for failing to display their SIA licence
-15 people were reported for benefit irregularities
– 10 people were reported for immigration offences
-2 people were reported for fraud offences
-1 person was reported for drugs offences.
Investigations are continuing, the SIA adds. Christy Hopkins, SIA Head of Investigation, said: "This huge operation shows the commitment of the SIA and our partners to target rogue security companies that seek to profit by disregarding the law. The SIA regulates the private security industry to ensure that only fit and proper people are employed in these positions of trust within our communities. We will continue to work closely with our partners to cause maximum disruption to rogue security firms."
Detective Inspector Calum Young, Maryhill CID, said: "I am pleased with the results of Wednesday’s operation. The sole purpose of this and the operations that will follow, is to target those individuals and companies that continue to act outside the law.
"Our message to those who are active in the Private Security Industry is a simple one; you are governed by the Private Security Industry Act 2001, act and work in accordance with the law."
Phil Taylor, Regional Director of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland said: "Our message is clear – we will not tolerate immigration related crime, which threatens to damage our communities. This successful operation shows our commitment to work closely with our colleagues in police forces throughout Scotland to help uncover this activity.
"We are determined to deal with this threat, and we will step in and identify those who are breaking our immigration laws and remove those people who are in the UK illegally."
