An Accrington man has been ordered to serve 250 hours of community service after being found guilty of flouting security rules for a second time.
Yesterday [23 May] at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court, Alan Neil Brownridge of Pansy Street South, Accrington, was found guilty of working as an unlicensed door supervisor.
Brownridge was convicted in his absence on 25 April 2012 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He attended court yesterday and was told to serve 250 hours of unpaid community service.
Brownridge, 45, was prosecuted by the SIA in April 2009 for being an unlicensed director of Accrington-based Universal Security Solutions Limited (USS).
Following Brownridges's prosecution in 2009, his company, USS, handed all contracts to another business, Global Security North West. The owner of Global Security North West, Scott Lee Barnes, was subsequently prosecuted by the SIA in October 2011, for failing to provide information about the company.
The SIA later received intelligence indicating that Brownridge was undertaking licensable activity for a customer of Global Security North West. SIA enquires found that between August and September 2011, Brownridge was working as an unlicensed door supervisor at a venue in Rawtenstall.
SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon said:
"We are very pleased with the outcome of this investigation. From the intelligence we received, Mr Brownridge continued to work as a door supervisor despite being previously prosecuted by the SIA. He clearly ignored previous warnings that he should not undertake roles within the private security industry.
"This is the second time that we have prosecuted Brownridge who thought that he could break the law twice and not face the consequences.
"This case sends a strong message and should act as a deterrent to anyone operating in the industry that we continuously monitor companies and individuals, even those prosecuted."
Notes to Editors:
- No costs were ordered, as Brownridge still owes the court monies from the previous security case.
- By law, security operatives working under contract and all door supervisors must hold and display a valid SIA licence. A non-front line licence is required for those who manage, supervise and/or employ individuals who engage in licensable activity, as long as front line activity is not carried out; this includes directors and partners.
Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on the website: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/enforcement
- The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry, 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).