Last Saturday evening (27 November), investigators from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) conducted enforcement operations in Telford and Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. These were targeted operations to identify and disrupt the activities of unlicensed security operatives, who place the public at risk by working illegally.

SIA investigators inspected venues across Telford, Shrewsbury, and Wolverhampton. They spoke with venue managers, examined documentation, and interviewed and checked the licences of security operatives on duty that night. SIA investigators also inspected a business’s premises and conducted enquiries at a residential address.

The operation, supported by officers from the West Mercia Police also sought to gather intelligence on fraudulent activity such as bogus security companies, individuals operating without a licence, and signs of labour exploitation and modern-day slavery.

At the end of the operation, SIA officials identified seven offences under the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) and potential offences under the Fraud Act.

• Four individuals were found to be working without a licence
• One security company was found to be supplying unlicensed operatives
• Two individuals were found to be breaking the conditions of their licence

One individual, though correctly licensed as a security guard, was found to be using a counterfeit door supervisor licence to work on the doors. He ran away as the SIA approached. Once the SIA has confirmed his identity, it will revoke the licence he currently holds.

SIA investigators will now follow up on the individuals found to be operating illegally and may revoke the licences they hold, where appropriate. The SIA may also conduct a criminal investigation and prosecute.

Commenting on the operations Pete Easterbrook, SIA Head of Criminal Investigations said:

The purpose of the SIA is to protect the public through effective regulation. Members of the public should be able to enjoy their nights out, confident that the venues they attend are secured by vetted, qualified and licensed individuals.

The vast majority of the private security industry take their obligations seriously and recognise the important role the private security industry plays in keeping the public safe. There are however a small number of individuals and businesses who show a complete disregard for regulation, and in doing so place the public at risk. Following Saturday’s operation, we will be scrutinising the activities of these individuals and businesses very closely. We will not hesitate to take swift and robust action against those fail to comply.

Mr Easterbrook added:

I would like to thank West Mercia Police for their support in this operation. Our close working relationship contributed to the successes on the night, and highlighted that some individuals who are of interest to our police partners are also of interest to the SIA.

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. The SIA’s 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), LinkedIn and Twitter (SIAuk).

• Environment Agency brings prosecution after waste site abandoned

• Defendant pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates’ Court

• Waste was stored in breach of permit conditions

Jonathan Wells, of Condover, Shrewsbury, pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates’ Court on 19 November 2021 to breaching conditions of an environmental waste permit including abandoning the site operated by LMS Skips Limited in Bromfield, Ludlow.

The court fined Wells, who was the sole director, a total of £1,272 (£636 for each charge), ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £127 and a contribution to prosecution costs of £500.

Between October 2016 and November 2017, officers visited the site and it was clear that too much waste was being accepted. 

Large amounts of waste, including domestic and commercial waste was being stored on the ground, outside of buildings and not in containers in breach of permit conditions. 

Several reports were issued to LMS Skips Limited notifying them of permit breaches. 

Initially the defendant was on site, but on 2 October 2017 there was no one on site. Officers attempted to contact Mr Wells without success. 

Unbeknown to the Environment Agency, Mr Wells had abandoned the site on 11 September 2017.  It subsequently became a fly tipping hotspot.  Neighbouring units suffered with pest issues due to the volumes of waste. 

The site was sold following liquidation of LMS Skips and cleared in 2018 at a cost of £45,000.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said:

The Environment Agency takes waste crime very seriously and is committed to prosecuting when an offence has been committed.

We are determined to make life hard for criminals. We support legitimate business and we are proactively supporting them by disrupting and stopping the criminal element.

We urge all those seeking to become involved in the waste industry to ensure they have the appropriate permits and authorisations.

If you have any suspicions that waste crime is taking place please contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.

Charges

1. Between the 2 October 2016 and 29 November 2017, LMS Skips Limited at Station Garage, Bromfield, Ludlow, did breach conditions 4.5.1 and 4.5.2 of Environmental Permit Number EPR/AB3407LH (formerly waste management licence EAWML46002) in that it stored waste outside of buildings and not within containers, contrary to Regulations 12 and 38 of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 and the offence was committed with the consent, connivance or neglect of Jonathan Wells as a director of the company, contrary to Regulation 41 of the same Regulations.

2. Between 15 June 2017 and 7 December 2017, LSM Skips Limited at “Station Garage”, Bromfield, Ludlow, did breach condition 1.9.2 of Environmental Permit Number EPR/AB3407LH (formerly waste management licence EAWML46002) in that it abandoned the site without notifying the Environment Agency of its cessation of waste management operations contrary to Regulations 12 and 38 of the Environmental Permitting (England & Wales) Regulations 2016 and the offence was committed with the consent, connivance or neglect of Jonathan Wells as a director of the company, contrary to Regulation 41 of the same Regulations.

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was represented by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP, and Rt Hon Conor Burns MP, the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office. The Government of Ireland was represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Simon Coveney TD, and the Minister for Justice, Ms Helen McEntee TD.

The Conference was established under Strand Three of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement “to promote bilateral co-operation at all levels on all matters of mutual interest within the competence of the UK and Irish Governments”.

The Conference discussed the following:

East-West Matters

The UK and Irish Governments discussed the important role of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in the development of the broader British-Irish relationship, with agreement on the deep value of strong bilateral cooperation at all levels between two close neighbours.

The Conference noted, and expressed appreciation for, the strong levels of cooperation and partnership between our respective Consular teams in Dublin, London and across the world during 2021.

Economic Co-operation

Both the Irish and UK Governments considered the critical importance of economic co-operation. The Conference agreed to work to explore synergies between the UK and Ireland’s respective Levelling Up initiative and the National Development Plan to ensure maximum benefit for the peoples of these islands.

The Conference recognised the 35th anniversary of the International Fund for Ireland and welcomed the recent launch of its new Strategy.

COP26 and Climate Change

The Conference noted the positive outcome at COP26 in Glasgow, and recognised the ongoing importance of cooperation between the United Kingdom and Ireland to act on the agreement in Glasgow, and accelerate climate action in this critical decade.

Security Co-operation

The Conference examined the current security situation. Both the Irish and UK Governments noted the importance of the high level of co-operation between the two jurisdictions to tackle terrorism, paramilitarism and associated criminality. They recognised the ongoing valuable work of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity, and discussed the upcoming publication of the IRC’s fourth annual report.

The UK and Irish Governments noted the recent 20 year anniversary of the establishment of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and expressed their appreciation and support for the officers who serve the community and the continued good relationship between PSNI and An Garda Síochána.

Rights and Citizenship Matters

The Conference discussed the vital importance of the Common Travel Area arrangements and the need for the Irish Government and the UK Government to continue to work together to uphold the reciprocal rights and privileges British and Irish citizens have long enjoyed. The Conference acknowledged the ongoing collaboration at November’s Plenary Meeting, which reaffirmed the commitment of the UK and Irish Governments to the full implementation of the Education Memorandum of Understanding that was recently signed and reviewed progress on health and a range of other areas.

The UK and Irish Governments also reaffirmed their commitment to the important guarantees of rights and the protections set out in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

Legacy

The Conference reviewed the discussions to date as part of the multiparty legacy engagement process agreed at the meeting of the Conference in June and had an exchange of views on next steps. They welcomed the participation of the political parties and a wide range of victims’ representatives and other stakeholders which had been critical to the process to this point.

The UK and Irish Governments also discussed issues of concern in respect to a number of individual legacy cases.

Political Stability

The Conference emphasised its support for the ongoing functioning of the devolved administration in Northern Ireland and underlined the importance of all of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement institutions operating fully and effectively given their interdependent and interlocking nature, and the importance of respecting the Agreement in all of its strands. The New Decade, New Approach agreement, which restored the institutions in January 2020, remains central to political stability, and the UK and Irish Governments reaffirmed their shared determination to continue to deliver on their respective commitments.

The Conference agreed to continue close co-operation in accordance with the three-stranded approach established in the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.

COVID-19 Recovery

The Conference considered the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on both jurisdictions. Both the UK and Irish Governments discussed the recognition of Covid certification and the importance of collaboration toward a shared recovery.

Future Meetings

It was agreed that the Conference should meet again in early 2022.

Up to 216 million people may be forced to abandon their homes by 2050 due to the effects of climate change, according to the Global Humanitarian Overview 2022 (GHO) which was launched at a virtual event co-hosted by the United Kingdom and United Nations today (2 December 2021).

The GHO sets out humanitarian needs across the globe annually. In 2022, 274 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection, an increase of 39 million people from 2021.

With a growing number of crises linked to climate change, the UK is investing in earlier interventions to prevent further suffering, reduce growing humanitarian needs and ensure funding goes further and is calling on other countries to do the same.

The UK has invested heavily in early warning systems, which enable a quicker, more effective humanitarian response. For example, in response to Cyclone Eloise which struck southern Africa this year, UK aid funded specialist flood risk assessments, compiled by a consortium including the Universities of Reading and Bristol, which helped humanitarians anticipate which areas were likely to be hit the hardest and to better plan the delivery of aid supplies and staffing.

Speaking from the virtual launch, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly said:

We are now facing the combined effects of conflict, climate and COVID-19 which are driving several humanitarian crises around the world. With needs rapidly outstripping available resources, it is vital we find new means to meet these challenges.

Innovation, data and technology are at the heart of tackling these issues, and acting early. The UK is a leader in this area, using our world-class capabilities to ensure aid agencies are able to plan and prepare for disasters, improving the chances of saving lives and reducing suffering.

The UK is also working with NGOs and partners to support more nimble and flexible responses to humanitarian crises. We supported the establishment of the Start Fund in 2014 and remain a major contributor to it, providing rapid financing to prepare and respond to underfunded crises. The UK-based Fund enables finance to be delivered to NGOs within 72 hours of a crisis hitting, ensuring those on the ground can deliver help to where it is needed quicker. Through the British Red Cross, the UK also supports the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund and Forecast Based Financing, which releases rapid funds to help National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to carry out their unique role preparing for and responding to disasters.

In addition to providing quicker and smarter humanitarian support, the UK is helping to deliver climate-resilient infrastructure through the Clean Green Initiative. For example, the UK has funded over £60 million in seismic and hurricane-resilient infrastructure in Anguilla following Hurricane Irma in 2017. This has supported the island’s only hospital, three clinics, five primary schools and a major new secondary school to be re-built to international standards. The new infrastructure will also be fitted to use solar power in the future.

UK aid is also supporting a wider SMART hospitals project, which aims to strengthen health facilities to make them more resilient to climate change and natural disasters. Separately, through the UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund (UKCIF), UK support will help to build around 15 major climate resilient economic infrastructure projects, including improved roads, water and electric supplies and ports to make them better able to withstand natural hazards.

Background

• The Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) is the world’s most comprehensive, authoritative and evidence-based assessment of humanitarian need. Produced by UN OCHA, it provides a global snapshot of the current and future trends in humanitarian action for large-scale resource mobilisation efforts, and explores opportunities to more effectively deliver humanitarian assistance.