Sheffield woman found guilty of working while her SIA licence was suspended

On 29 October, Jacqueline Taggart, of Sheffield, was found guilty at Sheffield Magistrates' Court of working while her Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence was suspended.

Taggart who was prosecuted by South Yorkshire Police, was sentenced to a 60 hours' community service order to be completed within 12 months. She was also required to pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.

Taggart was supplied to the Foxwood Embassy as a door supervisor by JKL Leisure and Pubs Ltd. SIA investigators and South Yorkshire Police licensing officers visited the venue and reviewed CCTV footage and the venue's signing-in book on 20 March 2019. They found that Taggart had worked illegally on five occasions between 18 November 2018 and 08 March 2019. The SIA had suspended her licence on 10 April 2018 and eventually revoked it on 08 August 2019.

South Yorkshire Police took the lead on this prosecution, with the support of the SIA. Nigel Davies, the SIA's Regional Criminal Investigation Manager for the East Region, said.

"We are pleased to have worked with our enforcement partner, South Yorkshire Police, to prosecute Taggart successfully. She was clearly told that it would be illegal for her to work in the private security industry while her licence was suspended. Nonetheless, she completely ignored this, lied to her employers about her licence, and put the Foxwood Embassy's patrons at risk. This undermines the integrity of, and confidence in the SIA licensing regime. As a result she now has a criminal record."

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Notes to Editors:

1. 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.
2. The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) that is mentioned in the above news release is:

Section 3 working without an SIA licence (suspended)

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 is available online via: 

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

Media enquiriesonlyplease contact:

Security Industry Authority

0300 123 9869

media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk