
![]() |
Brian Sims
Editor |
Company guilty of providing unlicensed guard
13 June 2019
ON 31 May, G.W.E Security Ltd pleaded guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court to supplying unlicensed security guards to a construction site at Westmuir Street in Glasgow. The operations manager of G.W.E Security, David Scott also pleaded guilty.
The company was fined £1350 for providing an unlicensed security guard and David Scott was fined £450 having pleaded guilty to the same offence.
Pete Easterbrook, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA said, "The supply of unlicensed security operatives is a serious offence, and I welcome the conviction of GWE Security and David Scott who showed a complete disregard for not only the law but also the expectations of their customers.
"Regulation of the security industry has been in place in Scotland for nearly 12 years, and the vast majority of the industry are reputable and provide an important service in terms of protecting the public and property. There remains, however, a very small number of individuals who believe that that the law does not apply to them and that they are beyond our reach of the SIA and those of our partners. Those individuals are mistaken, as this result demonstrates."
G.W.E Security, based in Renfrew, was, at the time of the offence, owned by Gillian Elliot and was investigated by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in 2016.
In November 2016, the SIA’s Criminal Investigations Team, received intelligence that that there was an unlicensed security guard working at a construction site on Westmuir Street in Glasgow. The intelligence was accurate and the SIA’s enquiries revealed that the supplier of the unlicensed security guard was G.W.E Security. It is illegal to provide unlicensed security operatives and as a result, this was reported to the Procurator Fiscal.
Pete Easterbrook also said, "The nature of the security industry in Scotland has changed dramatically since regulation was introduced. There is no place for unscrupulous security companies and criminality of any sort in the industry will not be tolerated. We will continue to investigate and seek the prosecution of those who engage in unlawful conduct."
- “Check approvals for Category 3 Control fire performance cables” warns AEI Cables
- London Fire Commissioner “takes immediate action” in response to stinging culture review
- HMICFRS: “More powers needed to ensure Fire and Rescue Services make urgent changes”
- FBU responds to ‘inadequate’ HMICFRS inspection
- NFCC outlines plans for Supervisory Leadership Development Programme
- Security Essen 2018 preview
- Manufacturers urged to prepare for 'no-deal' Brexit
- Fire Safety Matters Live 2023 set for Coventry
- Hotel and its owner fined for fire safety failures
- Nineteen Group launches duo of expanded cyber security events for 2021
- From the editor
- Blog for FSM website
- Out of the gates
- Doorman in dock for using forged licence for five years
- BSIA calls for urgent clarity over regulatory regime
- Feeling secure - October 2017
- Disqualified director continued to offer security contracts
- Unlicensed security firm boss jailed for 32 months
- Fire and Security Association names new chair
- Suspended sentence for unlicensed door supervisor