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The Security Industry Authority (SIA) reports that it mounted what it termed a series of coordinated, surprise operations across England to tackle suspected security licence fraud, labour exploitation and immigration offences. The SIA launched the day on October 31 with Home Office Immigration Enforcement targeting 11 places: Yorkshire, Somerset, Norfolk, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, East and West Sussex, Berkshire and Lancashire.
Two people were arrested by Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) officers for overstaying their visas during the joint investigation in Yeovil and Ilkeston. One person in Ilkeston was also cautioned under section 22 of the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA).
The synchronised, unannounced visits were aimed at disrupting potential organised crime linked to security company staff working at construction sites throughout the country, from the South Coast to the Northwest, the regulator said. The enforcement and intelligence-gathering operation was devised after the SIAโs Intelligence Team received allegations of serious criminal activity, including SIA licence fraud, organised immigration crime, labour exploitation and money laundering.
Pete Easterbrook, Head of Criminal Enforcement at the SIA said: โThis operation was a result of intelligence originating from within the private security industry which was developed and analysed by our Intelligence team and involved collaboration by our Criminal Enforcement and Compliance and Inspections teams. Investigators from the SIA and Home Office Immigration worked together to plan and execute intelligence-led enforcement action up and down the country, from East Sussex to Lancashire.
“Thanks to these combined efforts we have struck a significant blow against those seeking to use the private security industry as a vehicle for criminality including the exploitation of vulnerable people.
โOperations like this are vital in our mission to protect the public by ensuring that those who seek to seriously undermine the regulatory regime are brought to justice. Our message is clear. There is no place for criminality within the UK private security industry and we will take action to disrupt criminal operations and bring offenders to justice. We are resolute in our efforts to safeguard both the public and legitimate security operatives from these illegal practices. Where we get credible intelligence of illegal activity, we have the will and capability to act decisively and take robust action.โ
And Eddy Montgomery, Director of Enforcement, Compliance and Crime at the Home Office said: โExploitation of illegal workers within the UK construction industry is on the rise, with rogue employers showing complete disregard to the safety and rights of legal foreign workers who contribute significantly to this sector.
โOur Immigration Enforcement officers are working closely with other government agencies to intensify efforts to tackle illegal working in construction as part of a broad series of operations across multiple sectors.
โI would like to thank the Security Industry Authority for their effective collaboration in cracking down on fraudulent employers who are violating laws, impacting public finances, and exploiting vulnerable people for financial gain.โ
The SIA added that it’s unable to give further details of the arrests at this stage, given the potential impact on any future criminal prosecutions.
Anyone who is concerned about labour exploitation within the private security industry canโฏreport it to the authorities.โฏ
About the SIA
Since the mid-2000s it’s been responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIAโs main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). If and when Parliament passes the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, known better as Martyn’s Law, the SIA is in the frame to regulate and inspect hundreds of thousands of premises such as nightclubs, shopping centres, theatres, cinemas and hospitals that will fall under that law. Visit www.gov.uk/sia.
