Security director ordered to pay £95,000 as proceeds of his crime
At Woolwich Crown Court, ex-security director Aston Shim was recently ordered to pay £94,758 under the Proceeds of Crime Act, to be paid within six months. If the order is defaulted the Court may impose a period of 18 months imprisonment.
Shim was the sole director of Samurai Security Limited, Macbean Street, Woolwich, London, which provided security to nine venues including a school and a local council. Neither Shim, nor the majority of his security guards held SIA licences to work in the private security industry.
In November 2013, at a prosecution brought by the SIA, Shim, pleaded guilty to being a director of a security company without a SIA licence, and for supplying unlicensed security guards. The court disqualified Shim from working as a company director for five years, gave him a 120 hour Community Order, and fined him £8000.
The SIA worked in partnership with the London Regional Asset Recovery Team in securing a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act at Woolwich Crown court for £94,758.
Nathan Salmon, Head of Investigation said: “The confiscation ordered against Mr Shim means the financial gain he made in supplying unlicensed security guards will be removed from him. This has resulted in a closure of Mr Shim’s business and property obtained from the proceeds of crime.
“In running his business of 20 years, Shim made decisions not to comply with security industry regulations, which are in place to protect the public. Shim would not have been able to service his contracts without unlicensed operatives; a ruling during these proceedings means the total value of each contract is recoverable as criminal benefit where unlicensed operatives were used.
“It is important that the SIA pursues such matters. These prosecutions drive out poor industry practice, they ensure criminals do not benefit from their crime, and criminal funds are returned to the public purse.
“The SIA has worked in partnership with the London Regional Asset Recovery Team throughout the course of this investigation, we are grateful for their support.”
SIA seeks views on its future plans
Security Industry Authority is holding a consultation to gauge the views of stakeholders on its draft Business Plan for 2015/16 and Corporate Plan for 2015/18, Vigilance can report.
The consultation sets out the SIA's high-level draft plans, and it describes the SIA's proposed mission, vision and strategic goals.
At the SIA Stakeholder Conference in October, SIA Chair, Elizabeth France, set out the progress that the SIA had made in working closely with stakeholders to develop proposals for a new regulatory regime focused on businesses. Mrs France emphasised that the SIA is ready to take forward mandatory business licensing if and when the Government confirms its intentions. The SIA will not allow that question to distract it from using its existing powers in an audacious way to support the continued progress towards a better, quicker, and lower cost approach to regulation, with greater business engagement.
Elizabeth France, SIA Chair said: "I announced at our conference that we would consult with stakeholders and seek views on our proposals. We want to ensure that the next phase of our work reflects the views and priorities of those who buy, supply, and rely on private security.
"Our consultation asks whether you agree or disagree with our proposals and seeks any views or comments you wish to make. We shall consider any feedback you give us and take it in to account before publishing our final plan early in 2015."
Active Response Security Services - ACS Champion 2014
Active Response Security Services was announced as the ACS Champion 2014 at last night's Security Excellence Awards in London [27 Nov].
The 'ACS Champion of the Year' award is open to all approved contractors and seeks to identify those that have taken exceptional steps to further the spirit of the SIA's Approved Contractor Scheme. Active Response Security Services is currently approved by the SIA for security guarding and key holding.
SIA Chief Executive, Bill Butler, presented the ACS Champion award to Active Response Managing Director, Michelle Bailey.
Bill Butler said: "Active Response Security Services is a worthy winner of this year's award. The company showed that they are committed to promoting good practice and working with other organisations to help to maintain a safer environment for the public.
"The judges were impressed with Active Response’s collaborative working, including their local Academy programme, and relentless efforts to promote careers for women in security – particularly within management roles."
Security boss deployed unlicensed security guards to luxury development
A security boss has been sentenced for providing unlicensed security guards to a prestigious housing development in Prestbury, Cheshire, Vigilance can report.
Gary Ford (42) of Westall Court, Buxton, Derbyshire, pleaded guilty on 11 November to three security offences. On 17 November, Ford was sentenced at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court to a 12 month community order and a requirement that he completes 300 hours of unpaid work. The court awarded the Security Industry Authority £10,000 in costs, to be paid at £100 a week.
In May 2013, SIA investigators visited the site of two discreet luxury houses in Prestbury, where Ford’s company 4D Security provided private security. SIA investigators found an unlicensed security guard who had been deployed by Ford. SIA investigators again visited the site on 24 November 2013, and found a different unlicensed security guard working on the site. The man was not licensed to conduct manned guarding activities, although he did hold an SIA CCTV licence.
Following the visits to Prestbury, the SIA made requests to 4D Security for information under Section 19 of the Private Security Industry Act. Mr Ford failed to respond.
Nathan Salmon, Investigations Manager said: “This is a positive result for the SIA, demonstrating that both unlicensed and incorrectly licensed, security operatives cannot be ‘hidden’ at smaller, discreet security sites. Mr Ford’s business model paid scant regard to security regulations, the SIA twice found his operatives unlicensed in the role being undertaken.
“The owners of the houses in Prestbury paid Ford to provide private security. They should have been safe in the knowledge that the people guarding their property were trained, qualified, and held the appropriate SIA licences.
“The court considered the expense in bringing this prosecution, which is borne by correctly licensed operatives, and this has been reflected in the costs awarded to the SIA.”