Stephen Stuckle, 50, pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on 15 December. The court imposed a fine of £250, plus costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £32.

Stuckle had failed to notify the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that he had been cautioned by the police for domestic assault in 2019. He also neglected to tell the security regulator that he had moved house. He was required to do both these things as a condition of his licence. As a result, he had his Door Supervisor licence suspended in December 2019.

Gloucestershire Police received reports that Stuckle was still working, despite the suspension. Officers found Stuckle working on the door on three different occasions in March 2020 at the Mad Hatter’s Bar and Stoney’s wine bar, which are both in Cirencester.

The SIA invited Stuckle to a formal interview in September 2020, at which he claimed that he had not received notice of his suspension, due to having moved house. The SIA pointed out that his licence would have expired on 29 February 2020. Therefore Stuckle would have been breaking the law on every occasion that Gloucestershire Police found him in March, even if his licence hadn’t been suspended.

Nathan Salmon, of the SIA’s Criminal Investigation Team, said:

This is one of a number of recent cases in which licence holders have claimed not to know that their licence has been suspended. We require all licence holders to tell us immediately if they have relevant convictions, and also when they change address. Claiming not to have received a notification is no defence. Stephen Stuckle showed a complete lack of respect for the law, and for the police, and as a result he now has another conviction. He is also out of pocket and will not be working in security again.

Notes to editors:

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).
• ​​​​​​Media enquiries only please contact: 0300 123 9869, media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

At around 15:52 hrs on 10 December 2020, a rail vehicle detached from a winch rope during unloading from a heavy haulage road trailer directly onto the railway. It ran away and collided with the gates of a nearby level crossing. The vehicle broke through the gates and came to rest over an open, public road.

We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this incident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

The safety digest will be made available on our website in the next few weeks.

The MHRA has issued an authorisation to the Department of Health and Social Care to allow the use of the NHS Test and Trace COVID-19 Self-Test kit to detect infection in asymptomatic individuals.

This is an antigen lateral flow test (antigen LFT) which can give a result in 30 minutes.

The device can be used to identify new cases of COVID-19 in people who do not have symptoms. Anyone receiving a positive test should follow the information in the instructions for use provided with the kit.

A negative test result means that the test has not detected the presence of the COVID-19 virus, at the time the test was taken. Anyone receiving a negative test result should continue to follow the latest guidance for their area.

The MHRA follows a robust assessment procedure when considering applications for exceptional use of a medical device, this includes test kits. Information on the type of evidence that needs to be submitted as part of an application can be found on our website.

A self-test device can be used by a member of the public with no previous experience of testing, in their own home or another community setting such as a place of work. The self-test device should be straightforward to use and give results which are easy to understand. The instructions for use provided with the self-test device must be easy to follow and be available in a range of languages and formats.

Anyone who experiences any harm, injury, false positives or negatives, or difficulties in using the self-test device should report this to MHRA via the Coronavirus Yellow Card website.

Notes to Editor

1. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
2. The MHRA is a centre of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency which also includes the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
3. The MHRA operates the UK medical device vigilance system. This includes carrying out market surveillance, enforcing the legislation and working in collaboration with healthcare and regulatory stakeholders both in the UK and worldwide.
4. Manufacturers of testing kits are encouraged to contact the MHRA if they have questions, including those on data requirements, how to apply for a derogation and timeframes for approval.

UK nationals and their family members resident in Poland before 31 December 2020 must take some steps to secure documentation which evidences their right to stay is protected.

The Interational Organization for Migration (IOM) offers up-to-date and reliable information on requirements and procedures, as well as support to those who are facing specific challenges, such as people with disabilities, those grappling with chronic illnesses, language and literacy barriers, difficulties in accessing technology, and living in remote areas. IOM services include provision of information, legal consultations, and help with the preparation of required documents for submission.

Anna Clunes, British Ambassador to Poland, said:

I welcome IOM Poland’s service for UK nationals (and their family members) which is designed to help them understand the changes in residency status following the UK’s departure from the EU. This is an important programme assisting UK nationals to register their status so that they can continue to enjoy their residency rights after the end of the Transition period

Hanna Dobrzynska, Officer in Charge of the IOM Office in Poland, said:

After the UK has left the EU, UK nationals who want to continue living in Poland may need to navigate new regulations and requirements associated with prolonging their legal stay beyond the transition period which ends on 31 December 2020. The support offered by IOM involves not only offering reliable information, but also assistance in preparing documents and during submission of an application to a voivodeship office. The support is intended for UK nationals and their families who may find it harder to complete their applications

The project is conducted in cooperation with the British Embassy in Poland, and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office through the UK National Support Fund (UKNSF). It will continue until 31 March 2021.

The IOM helpline for UK nationals is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday at (+48) 224902044, and via e-mail at UKnationalsPL@iom.int.