Vigilance can reveal authoritatively that four London-based training providers can no longer provide SIA licence-linked training and 300 qualifications have been withdrawn following a wide-scale investigation into training malpractice.
Vigilance learnt that after the SIA received intelligence about the centres, ‘Operation Nevada’ was launched involving SIA investigators, the Metropolitan Police, awarding bodies (HABC, EDI, Edexcel), the qualifications regulator Ofqual, and the UK Border Agency. One individual has been arrested by police on suspicion of fraud, and the police and the UKBA are continuing to investigate various offences.
Unannounced visits led by the SIA took place at training providers in locations across London and South East of England on 12 November 2010. Evidence was found of serious training malpractice, such as the centres registering candidates and awarding them certificates when they had not sat the examination.
As a result, four London-based training providers - Divine College, St Joseph’s College of Science and Technology, ME Training and Inter-Continental College - have had their approval to provide training withdrawn by their awarding bodies.
Our investigative team also learnt that more than 300 certificates awarded to candidates registered with these centres have been withdrawn. Of these qualifications, 69 had been used to obtain an SIA licence (Door Supervision), all of which have been suspended. These licence holders have a 90 day period following the suspension to gain a valid qualification, after which time their licence will be revoked.
SIA Director of Compliance and Enforcement Dave Humphries said:
"Investigations into allegations of training malpractice are a key part of our compliance activity. In the interest of public protection it is vital that all operatives working in the security industry are properly trained to deal with the demands of their role.
"This operation involved very successful joint working with partner organisations and has provided a model that will be used again in the future to close down training providers where there is evidence of misconduct."
Details:
- The SIA sets the specifications for the licence-linked qualifications, but does not provide training. The awarding bodies develop the qualifications, and the training courses are provided by training providers. For more information on these roles visit this page.
- The centres that have had their approval removed by the awarding bodies are:
- Divine College of Education and Training Ltd, Suite 215, Kemp House, 152-160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX. (Satellite Centres: Abbey Road, London E15 3JZ, 8A Harleyford Street, London SE11 5SY and 22 Deanery Road, London E15 4LP.)
- Inter-Continental College, John Gilpin House, 867 High Road, London N17 8EY.
- St Joseph’s College, West Wing, 1A Adelaide Road, London E10 5NW.
- ME Training, West Wing, 1A Adelaide Road, London E10 5NW.
- The Security Industry Authority regulates the private security industry in the United Kingdom under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, reporting to the Home Secretary. Its main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme approving private security suppliers.
- In October 2010, the Government announced a "phased transition to a new regulatory regime" for the private security industry; the SIA will no longer be a Non-Departmental Public Body. The SIA is currently working with the Government and security industry to plan how private security in the UK will be regulated in the future. The new regulation will build on the successes of SIA licensing and the Approved Contractor Scheme. There will be no major changes to SIA regulation or the ACS before the London Olympics 2012.
Currently the Private Security Industry Act 2001 remains law. It is 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