Newtownards businessman pleads guilty to supplying illegal security

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) brought the case against Butler after its investigations found unlicensed security operatives were working illegally in Newtownards, County Down.

Accompanied by Police Service of Northern Ireland officers, SIA investigators conducted licensing inspections in Newtownards on 12 October 2019. The investigators visited a restaurant and bar where they found two unlicensed security operatives working illegally.

Strangford Security (ie Butler’s business) had supplied illegal security to the restaurant between June and November 2019. The area manager of the restaurant told SIA investigators that Strangford Security was the supplier and the investigators identified that Butler was using illegal security. He had supplied two unlicensed males, one of whom worked 21 times and the other on 12 occasions.

In November 2019, Butler’s solicitor supplied some of the information that had been requested by SIA investigators. However, he failed to provide the SIA with an accurate list of his security contracts and omitted the names of the two men who were identified as providing illegal security to the restaurant.

Following on from the sentencing process, the SIA will now be pursuing Proceeds of Crime Act-related enquiries.

Jenny Hart, one of the SIA’s criminal investigation managers, explained: “Butler supplied unlicensed security operatives who worked illegally in a restaurant and bar, thus putting the customers of the venue at risk from people who were wholly unsuitable. His actions damaged the venue’s reputation.”

Hart continued: “Butler tried to evade the regulatory regime by providing false information and failing to reveal the full extent of his criminality to the SIA. The sentence handed down does reflect Butler’s ill-health. However, we will pursue proceeds of crime enquiries and continue to address the supply of illegal and unlicensed private security in Northern Ireland.”