More than 400 door supervisors were inspected during a London borough-wide operation on Friday [29 June].
The Metropolitan Police led the operation, supported by Security Industry Authority investigators, local police units, local authorities and trading standards and other partners.
The operation was part of the Met's Operation Condor, which saw officers deployed across London boroughs to crack down on licensing issues such as unlicensed door staff working at pubs and clubs.
The SIA supported inspections that took place at 109 venues in the following boroughs: Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster. The SIA also supported Surrey Police to carry out visits in Guilford.
In total 420 door supervisors were checked. Of those, 408 individuals were working legally by holding a valid SIA licence. 12 door staff were found to be working illegally in the following boroughs: Southwark (five operatives), Lambeth (three operatives), Hackney (one operative), Hammersmith and Fulham (one operative), Wandsworth (one operative) and Westminster (one operative). Pending further investigation, prosecutions will follow.
Investigators issued warnings to more than 40 people across all areas for breaking licence conditions, which included failing to display the SIA licence whilst on duty, failing to notify the SIA of a change of address and failing to notify the SIA of criminality.
SIA Head of Investigation Jacquie Parker said:
"This is the second phase of Operation Condor, a programme of operations involving the police, trading standards and other partners targeting licensing issues in London.
"We found a number of offences, which included door staff working with revoked licences, working with licences that had expired, those who were unlicensed and those working with licences for the wrong sector. We are carrying out enquiries regarding all the offences found and action will be taken against those that were found to be offending."
Notes to Editors:
- The operation used the Met's Operation Spex model of an intelligence cells staffed by police and SIA investigators to detect non-compliance with the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
- The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA's main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
- The SIA is working in consultation with the industry to draw up plans for a "phased transition to a new regulatory regime" announced by the Government in 2010. Future regulation is subject to approval by Parliament and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Scotland, but focuses on the licensing of businesses.
It remains a criminal offence for security operatives and those deploying them to work in licensable activities without a valid SIA licence. The SIA and our partners continue to ensure that the law is properly enforced.
- There is a section on the SIA website dedicated to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/olympics
- For further information about the Security Industry Authority or to sign up for email updates visit www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. The SIA is also on Facebook
(Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).