They were charged with failing to supply information to the Security Industry Authority (SIA) despite repeated requests; this is a breach of the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) 2001.
Three security company directors - Basit Sultan, Muhammad Aslam and Usman Raees - failed to appear at Bradford Magistrates' Court on the appointed date. They were each fined £660 in their absence and required to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £66.
Nathan Salmon, of the SIA's Criminal Investigation team, said that the men will no longer be able to work in the private security industry in the UK and commented that:
It is a licensing requirement that security professionals must provide business information to the SIA when requested, within a reasonable time frame. There was no attempt at compliance from any of these individuals, even giving allowances for the restrictions imposed by COVID-19. They will not be able to work in the private security industry as their licences will be suspended and they will also have criminal records.
It is an ongoing issue in West Yorkshire that some security businesses are not providing information. The SIA have been investigating several security businesses in West Yorkshire, which all appear to be closely linked with each other.
We will continue to pursue and take action against businesses that flout regulation and we are determined to root out poor business practices in the private security industry.
Basit Sultan from Oldham was a director of Sintry Facility Management Ltd between 24 January 2019 and 04 November 2019. The SIA sought information from Sultan about Sintry's dealings with a Bradford construction company. The SIA wrote to Sultan repeatedly in September and October 2019 requesting information, but he failed to respond. This lack of compliance with the PSIA meant that the SIA brought a prosecution against him.
Muhammad Kamran Aslam from Huddersfield was formerly a director of Bluesec Services Ltd between 22 December 2016 and 06 March 2019. SIA investigators sought information about Bluesec's dealings with the construction industry. A letter requesting information was sent to both Aslam and Bluesec Services Ltd about their deployment of security officers. The SIA did not receive a reply and prosecuted Aslam for non-compliance.
Usman Raees from Bradford was also a former director of Bluesec Services Group Ltd between 21 November 2017 and 28 November 2017. The SIA sought further information from Raees about the deployment of security officers. SIA investigators wrote to Raees on 16 September 2019 and sent subsequent follow up letters in October 2019 but there was no response. Raees was prosecuted by the SIA on 22 December 2020.
SIA investigators also sent an initial request for information to door supervisor Junaid Zafar, from Batley, on 20 March 2020. He became a director of Sentinel Security Group Ltd on 28 February 2020.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zafar sought extra time to reply to the SIA, which was granted on 09 April. Zafar failed to supply the information and instead wrote on 29 June 2020 to say that his company had filed for liquidation. The SIA subsequently prosecuted him.
On 22 December Zafar pleaded guilty to one count of infringement of the PSIA and was fined £150. He is also required to pay court costs of £150 and a victim surcharge of £34. Zafar now has a criminal record for non-compliance with the PSIA and will not be able to work in the UK's private security industry.
Notes:
- by law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
- read about SIA enforcement and penalties
- the offence mentioned in the above news release is: Private Security Industry Act 2001, Section 19 (failing to provide information relating to an investigation)
