On Tuesday 6 July a Brigg-based security company and its manager pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court to supplying unlicensed security to a Bradford nightclub.
The court fined Liberty Security Solutions £540 plus a victim surcharge of £54 and court costs of £1050 payable within 28 days. The court also fined the company's acting manager Basharat Bashir £176. He is additionally required to pay a victim surcharge of £30 plus court costs of £1050.
Earlier this year the Security Industry Authority (SIA) prosecuted Abbas Ali Shah for working illegally at the nightclub.
West Yorkshire Police investigated the venue and discovered that signing-in sheets had been completed by an unlicensed security operative. Abbas Ali Shah had worked illegally between 11 November 2018 and 17 March 2019.
The SIA took over the investigation and during 2019 made repeated attempts to carry out interviews. The SIA was informed that an accountancy firm was acting on behalf of the directors.
Bashir was a manager within Liberty but told the SIA that he had nothing to do with the staffing, contracts or payroll, and no knowledge of Abbas Ali Shah.
Evidence demonstrated that this was untrue. This led to the SIA's prosecution. The ongoing pandemic has delayed the progress of this investigation and prosecution.
Nathan Salmon, the SIA's Criminal Investigations Manager, said:
Clubbers at the venue in question would have had every expectation that licensed, regulated security staff would keep them safe on a night out. Bashir and Liberty have incurred costs and gained a criminal record.
Notes:
- By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
- Read about SIA enforcement and penalties
- The offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) mentioned above are:
- Liberty Security Solutions Ltd: Section 5 (deploying unlicensed guards)
- Bashir: Section 5 (deploying unlicensed guards) and Section 23 (consent, connivance or neglect of directors for employing unlicensed guards)
- Read the Private Security Industry Act 2001
