Man fined for trying to use someone else’s SIA licence

The prosecution was brought by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and he was fined £320, ordered to pay £1200 court costs and a £34 victim surcharge.

Between 30 November and 15 December 2020, Mohammed Abdurahman presented himself to Chester security business Cynergy Security Group Ltd. as Ali Mohammed. There was a discrepancy with his identity documents. Abdurahman gave the company a valid SIA licence in the name of Ali Mohammed; followed by a residence permit and a bank statement in the name of Mohammed Abdurahman.

Abdurahman failed his induction checks and Abdurahman was invited by Cynergy to supply hard copies of his identity documents, but he failed to return with them. Cynergy approached the SIA expressing their concerns particularly about an image on the licence. The SIA started an investigation into the case.

Abdurahman failed to engage with SIA Investigators, but using an email address they were able to identify Abdurahman as a student at Coleg Cambria College. The SIA persistently sought after Abdurahman and further investigation revealed that his student identity card matched the image on the SIA licence. He was contacted by an SIA Investigator and ‘interviewed’ using a statutory defence letter. He was subsequently summonsed to Wrexham Magistrates’ Court.

The magistrate at the court said:

This is a very serious case of fraud, this could’ve had very serious consequences for the company and industry that is highly regulated and respected. We take the matter seriously on theirs and the public’s behalf.

Mark Chapman, one of the SIA’s criminal investigation managers, said:

We appreciate the steps taken by Cynergy Security Group to notify the SIA of their concerns. Abdurahman sought to gain legitimate work in the private security industry and attempted to circumvent the safeguards in place to protect the public by fraudulently presenting himself as someone else using another’s legitimate documents. The licensing regime is there to protect the public and Abdurahman had not gone through the rigorous vetting and training required to be a licensed security professional. Abdurahman has now incurred fines and a criminal record due to his fraudulent activity. His conviction means that he will not be able to work in the industry.

Notes to editors:

• By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
• Read about SIA enforcement and penalties
• The offences committed against the Fraud Act 2006 were:
  • 1 count of Section 2 Fraud by false representation
  • 1 count of Section 7 Fraud Assist in the commission of fraud

Further information:

• The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
• For further information about the Security Industry Authority visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).