Car crash exposes man with forged security licence 

A Southend man without the legal right to work in the UK was caught with a forged Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence after he was injured in a car accident in Bristol.

On Monday 14 November, Ahmed Altorshan was handed a 17 weeks' jail sentence, suspended for 12 months, by Southend-on-Sea Magistrates' Court. He was also ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work and pay £500 prosecution costs plus a victim surcharge of £128. The sentence follows his guilty plea to fraud on 30 September 2022. 

The SIA brought the prosecution following the road accident when the car that Mr Altorshan was driving hit a tree in Bristol on 29 April 2021. As Mr Altorshan was injured, he was taken to hospital. Police officers investigating the incident recovered multiple identity cards, including a forged SIA door supervisor's licence, from the car. 

The forgery was of a genuine licence held by a legitimate licence holder. Avon and Somerset Police referred the incident to Home Office Immigration, who contacted the SIA. 

Essex Police went to Mr Altorshan's address in Southend-on-Sea to search the property for further evidence. As Mr Altorshan wasn't there and he was interviewed under caution by the SIA (with the help of an interpreter) on 28 February 2022. He admitted to paying for the fraudulent document but claimed that he didn't use the licence to gain work. 

The presiding district Judge said:

"You paid for this card to be made as you had been unable to find employment. At the time there was a good reason for that as due to your immigration status you could not legally work in this country...you could have put members of the public at risk as you would be unable to protect them without the proper training or you would have had access to vulnerable individuals without the relevant safeguarding training." 

Jenny Hart, one of the SIA's criminal investigations managers said:

"Mr Altorshan's road accident revealed the possession of a fraudulent SIA licence, which is both illegal and unacceptable. We are grateful to our enforcement partners Avon and Somerset Police, Essex Police, and Home Office Immigration for helping to identify this licensing fraud. The licensing regime is there to protect the public by ensuring that licence holders are fit and proper and suitably trained. Thankfully Mr Altorshan did not use the licence but he broke the law, has been handed a serious sentence and now has a criminal record."                           -ends-

Notes to Editors:
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information aboutSIA enforcement and penalties can be found on GOV.UK/SIA.

The offence relating to theFraud Act 2006that is mentioned above is:Section 6 Possession of articles for use in fraud 

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 onLinkedIn,Facebook (Security Industry Authority)andTwitter (@SIAuk). 

Media enquiriesonlyplease contact:

Security Industry Authority

0300 123 9869

media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk