Wirral brothers prosecuted for working while their licences were suspended

On Thursday 18 October 2018, Wirral brothers' Kyle James Owen (27) and Ryan Arthur Owen (24) were sentenced at Wirral Magistrates' Court for committing offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (PSIA).

Ryan Owen had been the Director of Owens Security Solutions Ltd. When his licence was suspended in June 2017 by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), he appointed his brother Kyle as director in order for the company to continue trading but he did not remove himself as a director and despite his suspension continued to work in licensable roles.

At the trial on Thursday, Kyle Owen was found guilty for supplying his brother Ryan Owen to a venue as an unlicensed security guard. Ryan Owen was found guilty of supplying himself as an unlicensed security guard while he was the director of the company.

Ryan Owen, was fined £800 and required to pay a victim surcharge of £40 and court costs of £2,500 as he supplied non-licensed personnel to venues on the Wirral. He also continued to work in a licensable role, despite his licence being suspended.

His brother, Kyle Owen, was fined £400 and is required to pay a victim surcharge of £40 plus court costs of £1,000. He took over as director of the company in June 2017 following the suspension of Ryan Owen's licence. Kyle Owen then also supplied non-licensed security operatives, including his brother Ryan, to venues in the Wirral.

Earlier in July 2018 both men plead guilty at Wirral Magistrates' Court for failing to supply information to the SIA when requested (a contravention of section 19 of the act) and for not informing the SIA of their change of addresses (an offence relating to the conditions of their licence).

Commenting on the case the SIA's Criminal Investigations Manager, Pete Easterbrook, said that suspension means suspension.

"An SIA licence suspension is designed to remove individuals from licensable positions until there is certainty about whether that person is fit to continue as a licence holder, or not. The suspension is there to protect the public, it cannot be circumnavigated."

He said: "In this case, the Owen brothers embarked on a course of action which placed the public at risk. To compound matters, they then failed to cooperate with the SIA as the regulator and respond to requests for information in all likelihood to mask their activity."

"I am pleased that the court recognises the significance of the suspension of an SIA licence and the severity of the Owen brothers' actions by ignoring the suspension."                             
-ends-

Notes to Editors:

There are no section 5 offences laid against the company Owens Security Solutions Ltd as it was dissolved at Companies House before this could be done.

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 the website.

1. The offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) that are mentioned in the above news release are as follows:

• Section 5 deploying unlicensed guards
• Section 9 contravening licence conditions
• Section 19 failure to provide information
• The Act is available online viahttp://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/12/contents.

 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 SIA or to sign up for email updates visit:www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (@SIAuk).

The Authority may approve the terms in which a person who is for the time being registered under section 14 as an approved provider of security industry services may hold himself out as so registered.

Media enquiriesonlyplease contact:

Security Industry Authority

0300 123 9869

media.enquiries@sia.gsi.gov.uk