A former Dorset security director yesterday [22 December] pleaded guilty to supplying unlicensed security operatives, and to not holding an SIA licence. Andrew Mark Lee, 40, who ran Trade Secret Security, was given a 12-month conditional discharge for supplying unlicensed door staff. He was also fined £1,000 plus a victim surcharge of £15 and ordered to pay costs of £500 for working without an SIA licence, during the hearing at Bournemouth Crown Court.

By law, anyone working as a door supervisor must have and display a valid SIA licence. This means they have passed an approved training qualification and undergone vetting such as criminal record and identity checks. Directors and managers must have at least a non-front line licence.

During routine checks by Dorset Police licensing offers in Bournemouth in May this year, a door supervisor, who had been supplied to one venue by Lee, was found working with an expired SIA licence. The door supervisor later received a police caution. Lee, of Holly Close, Ferndown, was found working as a door supervisor without an SIA licence at Hero’s bar in Christchurch Road. Lee was arrested at the scene and later admitted to police that he had never held a licence.

Rachel White, an SIA Head of Investigation, said: “Lee admitted that he had never held an SIA licence – demonstrating little regard for the law or for the public’s safety. This case demonstrates the police and SIA commitments to ensuring door staff are working legally, and have shown that they are fit and proper persons to act in security roles by undergoing training and vetting in obtaining the SIA licence.”

PC Dave Fish, of Dorset Police’s Licensing Team, said: “This is an excellent result and is the first conviction of its kind in Dorset. While the majority of door supervisors working in Bournemouth are licensed, we hope that this conviction will send out a strong message to the very small minority who don’t have a licence. We take the safety of pub and club-goers very seriously and will continue to work with the Security Industry Authority and local Safer Neighbourhood Teams to carry out regular checks on door supervisors.”

SIA Website

Posted by Kristina Tasic – 23 December 2009