188体育

A security company has been fined 拢4,000 and must pay back more than 拢42,000 in proceeds of crime after it repeatedly employed unlicensed security staff and unlicensed security managers in its Alarm Response Centre guarding sites remotely across the UK.

Glasgow-based SPS Doorguard Ltd knowingly provided its clients with unlicensed security guards to protect properties remotely, despite being warned by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that this was unlawful.

The SIA then provided SPS Doorguard Ltd with 4 months to correctly license its staff and managers after deferring its reporting to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Office for consideration of prosecution of SPS Doorguard Ltd in November 2023.

Despite its warnings, the SIA discovered that SPS Doorguard Ltd continued to use unlicensed staff and managers, and recruit new unlicensed staff within its Alarm Response Centre. Consequently, the matter was reported to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Office.

On 4 July 2024, SPS Doorguard Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching the Private Security Industry Act 2001. A Confiscation Order under the Proceeds of Crime Act was thereafter issued by the Court on 18 December 2024, the Court having determined that the company had received a criminal benefit of 拢42,039 for its activities between 25 March 2022 and 4 July 2023. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Office will use the recovered money to fund good causes across Scotland through the Scottish Government鈥檚 CashBack for Communities programme.

On 8 January 2025, the company was sentenced to a fine of 拢4,000 and was ordered to pay a Victim Surcharge of 拢175.

Nicola Bolton, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA, said:

An important part of keeping the public safe is ensuring that people working in the private security industry are properly licensed. By working illegally, SPS Doorguard Ltd profited significantly at the expense of those they were employed to protect. They are now facing the consequences. This court order will help to redress the imbalance that operating illegally has on the private security industry. It demonstrates that crime does not pay.

Notes to editors

By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on 188体育/SIA.

罢丑别鈥�鈥�(POCA) sets out the legislative scheme for the recovery of criminal assets, with criminal confiscation being the most commonly used power. Confiscation occurs after a conviction has taken place.

If a person has a POCA Order against them they must pay it, regardless of whether they serve a jail sentence.

The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 that is mentioned above is:

• Section 5 - employing unlicensed persons in licensable conduct

Further information

The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the . The SIA鈥檚 main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

For further information about the SIA or to sign up for email updates visit . We also post articles and updates on . The SIA is on and .

Media enquiries only

For media enquiries only please contact: [email protected].