Rhondda security company fined for false claim of approved contractor status

On Thursday 26 August a Rhondda security company and its two directors pleaded guilty at Cardiff Magistrates' Court to illegally branding their business as a Security Industry Authority (SIA) approved contractor.

Dragon Event Security Ltd and its two directors, Darrel Baldwin and Anthony Stone, were sentenced on the same day. Dragon Event Security Ltd was fined £390 and required to pay a victim surcharge of £39. Darrel Baldwin was fined £390 required to pay £480 court costs and a victim surcharge of £39. Fellow director Anthony Stone was also fined £390 and required to pay costs of £480 and a victim surcharge of £39. The former directors claimed to be dissolving Dragon Event Security Ltd which was founded on 20 January 2020.

The prosecution started with an SIA investigation into Darrel Baldwin's former business, Stay Safe Events Support Ltd, for the alleged supply of illegal security. By the time the investigation gathered momentum the business had become Dragon Event Security Ltd.

SIA investigators discovered that Dragon Event Security was illegally displaying SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) status on company vans and on social media. Dragon Event Security has never been an SIA approved contractor. The SIA's investigators asked Dragon several times to remove the ACS accreditation mark from its company vehicles and its Facebook profile. The directors refused to engage with the SIA and continued to display their false status.

This left the SIA no other option but to prosecute.

Nathan Salmon, one of the SIA's criminal investigations managers, said:

"The business falsely advertised that they had been awarded ACS accreditation. Dragon Event Security attempted to win lucrative business by purporting to be vetted and having gone through the rigorous process to be an approved contractor. Their persistent behaviour has landed them in court and as a result they have received fines and criminal records. This is a lesson for anyone who seeks to illegally display our ACS accreditation; we will prosecute any business who continues to purport to be something they are not."

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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 GOV.UK.

2. The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is voluntary and exists to raise performance standards. To be an approved contractor a business needs to meet a sector-specific approval based on a relevant set of qualifying criteria that is independently assessed.

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

1 x count of Section 16 Right to use Approved Contractor Scheme  logo

2 x counts of Section 16 via Section 23

Criminal liability of the directors

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 is available online via: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/12/contents.

4. The SIA recently published guidance for approved contractors about sub-contracting suppliers to events.

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.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also onFacebook (Security Industry Authority)andTwitter (@SIAuk).

Media enquiries only please contact:

Security Industry Authority

0300 123 9869

media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk