Disqualified director continued to offer security contracts

The SIA began investigating Miichael Quinton and Limited Risk Ltd, an existing Portsmouth-based security company to which he was linked, in May 2014. Quinton, who appeared to be acting as a director of the company, was listed as a disqualified director at Companies House and did not hold an SIA licence. 

When the investigation began, Quinton and Limited Risk had a number of contracts to undertake security at venues across London and the South East. After further enquiries it became clear that Quinton also had connections to several security companies that were listed as dissolved at Companies House. These companies were Defensa Security Limited, Guardit (UK) Limited, Guardit Clubs Limited, Guardit Events Limited and Guardit Security Services.

After scrutinising Quinton further, SIA investigators uncovered a number of potential offences from the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014. These offences related to the supply of security staff to the Commonwealth Games where accommodation for the volunteers never materialised and they ended up paying for it themselves.

Investigators were able to show that Quinton had been acting as a director for Limited Risk, despite having been disqualified. As a result, SIA referred him to the Insolvency Service and supplied information relating to the investigation. Hampshire Police also investigated Quinton. The Criminal Enforcement team at the Insolvency Service then prosecuted Quinton.

Quinton appeared at Kingston Crown Court on 27 July and pleaded guilty to breaching the Company Director Disqualification Act 1986. He was given an 18 month sentence, suspended for 2 years and ordered to pay costs of £13,818 within six months. He was was disqualified from being a director of a company and/or an insolvency practitioner for 10 years.

SIA partnerships and investigations manager Kevin Young  said: "Our investigation of Quinton’s business practices relating to the supply of security staff to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, and other major sporting events, revealed a pattern of behaviour.

"Our investigators at the SIA actively seek to work with partners and the conviction of Michael Quinton shows the value of joint working and sharing of information between the Insolvency Service and Hampshire Police.

The case lawyer, Ian Hatcher, from the Insolvency Service said: "This case shows that the Criminal Enforcement Team of Insolvency Service will take action against those individuals who act as directors or are involved in the management of companies when they are not permitted to do so.

"Here, a disqualified director attempted to circumvent his ban by incorporating a company abroad and by using the names of others as directors of his British company. The Criminal Enforcement Team of Insolvency Service was alive to this, and took firm action."