A targeted, multi-agency operation checking security licensing, visa offences and employee pay took place last week across central London, Vigilance can report.
Vigilance learnt that with the support of Crossrail Limited, investigators from the Security Industry Authority were joined by officers from the Metropolitan Police and officials from HM Revenue and Customs, and Home Office Immigration and Enforcement.
A source at the SIA said the taskforce was assembled to conduct checks on individuals working on Crossrail construction sites around central London, adding the Crossrail project involved numerous construction sites and the employment of several private security companies to protect them.
The source revealed this partnership operation was conducted to ensure that those working across the 12 sites were correctly SIA licensed, have the right to work in the UK, and were being paid at least the national minimum wage.
- In total, the taskforce visited sites across: Paddington, Bond Street, Liverpool Street, Woolwich, Plumstead and Custom House, checking 40 security guards.
- Of those inspected, 39 were correctly SIA licensed. One individual was found working unlicensed at Paddington; enquiries are on-going.
- Five warnings issued to security guards that had failed to notify the SIA of a change of their address and for failing to display their licence; both are a breach of SIA licensing conditions.
- One arrest was made on an individual suspected of breaching his visa conditions; enquiries are being taken forward by Home Office Immigration and Enforcement.
- All individuals stated that they were being paid above both the London Living Wage and the National Minimum Wage.
Dave Humphries, SIA Director of Partnerships and Interventions, said: "This SIA-led operation has been made possible with the support and cooperation of key partners.
"The cooperation of the enforcement partners involved shows the cross-organisational commitment to ensuring that those working on, and operating construction sites, are doing so legally.
"The successful results of this operation will reassure the public that we will continue to work with this multi-agency approach to ensure compliance with the law."
HMRC's Jennie Granger, Director General of Enforcement and Compliance, said: "HMRC is pleased to work with our partner agencies to make sure that workers in the UK are paid what they’re entitled to and pay any tax owed, creating a level playing field for employers and employees."
In another development the SIA investigators joined officers from South Yorkshire police to conduct licensing checks around Sheffield city centre.
During this intelligence-led operation, 25 door supervisors were said to have been checked across nine venues including bars and clubs. All were found to be working legally as they held valid SIA licences.
Vigilance learnt further enquiries are being made into a bar manager who did not hold the correct non-front line SIA licence required to deploy in-house door supervisors at his venue.
SIA Head of Investigation Nigel Davies said: "The results of this operation show that individuals working in the private security industry are aware of their responsibility to be SIA licensed.
"We will continue to work in partnership with South Yorkshire Police to ensure these high standards are maintained."