A security boss has been found guilty of working as a security director without holding an SIA licence. Mark David Livingston, 47, was the director of Hallmarc Security Ltd based in Grantham and supplied door staff in the area. Livingston initially held a licence but failed to renew it on expiry.

At Grantham Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to two offences of working as a director without an SIA licence and was fined £500 for each. He was also found guilty of one offence of failing to provide information to the SIA and fined £300 – failing to comply with the SIA’s power to require information was not merely a technical offence, the court heard. The offences are set out in the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

As well as the fines, Livingston was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £12,000, total fines and costs of £13,300.

The SIA’s Formal Investigation Team investigated and took the case forward for prosecution after a referral from the SIA’s East Regional Team. This followed a joint compliance operation with Lincolnshire Police in April 2008.

Sara Brennan, an SIA Head of Investigation, said: “This has been a challenging case but SIA licensing must be adhered to. Livingston ignored the law and this is a clear warning to others that non-compliance will not be tolerated.”

Directors, managers and supervisors of security companies are required to hold at least a non-front line SIA licence.  It is also illegal to work as a door supervisor without an SIA front-line door supervisor licence.

beSmart regularly run courses offering SIA approved security courses.  Check-out our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk for more information.