Two brothers who last week pleaded guilty to working as security officers without holding the required Security Industry Authority licences had been fined by the Chesterfield Magistrate Court.

George Michael Hannah, 57, of Alcock Avenue, Mansfield and Kevin Hannah, 52 of Shirland Drive, Mansfield, were each fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 towards costs during the hearing at Chesterfield Magistrates Court in Derbyshire on Wednesday [13 Oct].

Following this illegal development, Vigilance authoritatively learnt that the Security Industry Authority has vehemently warned that Security officers working under a contract must hold and display valid SIA licences. This means they have passed an approved training qualification and undergone vetting such as criminal record and identity checks.

The brothers were identified during an SIA investigation into a security company based in Derbyshire. George Hannah was found working at a site in Tibshelf during a targeted inspection in May this year.

Vigilance gathered that further investigation revealed that George and Kevin Hannah had consistently worked as unlicensed security guards at the site. The sentences were for one charge each of working without an SIA licence, concerning the four months March to June 2010.

George Hannah was in 2006 refused a licence by the SIA on the grounds of criminality, whilst Kevin Hannah applied for a licence without a valid training qualification.

Further suspected individuals associated with the investigation remain under consideration by the SIA.

SIA Head of Investigation Sara Brenan said:

"SIA licensing protects the public from unsuitable people working in positions of trust in the private security industry. The two brothers worked as security guards and consistently broke the law by working illegally by not holding an SIA licence."