Brian Sims
Editor
Brian Sims
Editor
SAMUEL MILLER has been given a suspended sentence for fraud after he used someone else’s Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence to work illegally at a venue in Newcastle. An SIA investigation found that Miller committed fraud by lying to his employers and working unlicensed as a door supervisor at City Vaults.
Miller worked multiple shifts at the venue between August and October 2022 while using the SIA licence number of someone with a similar name. Northumbria Police officers were investigating a separate incident at a venue when they discovered Miller working without a licence. They then referred the matter to the SIA for investigation.
Jenny Hart, criminal investigations manager at the SIA, said: “Door supervisors and security officers have an important front line role to play in protecting the public. That’s why we have a robust licensing regime in place to make sure they have the skills they need to keep people safe.”
Hart continued: “Miller used a fraudulent licence to obtain work. He showed a brazen disregard for public safety by deceiving his employers to take on a role for which he was not qualified. We take matters like this incredibly seriously. Miller has found out the hard way that crime does not pay.”
On 13 May this year, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of breaching the Private Security Industry Act 2001 by working in a licensable role without a valid licence. He was sentenced to 18 weeks’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, when appearing at Newcastle Crown Court on 11 October. He must also pay £500 in court costs.
Registered sexual offender worked illegally as security officer
Soltan May worked twice during October and November 2023 at Freightliner, a rail freight company. He failed to notify the SIA or his employer that he was a registered sexual offender and continued to present himself as being eligible to work as a security officer.
South Wales Police notified the SIA in November 2023 of May’s criminal conviction. Once his sexual offences were identified, the SIA immediately suspended his licence and launched a criminal investigation. Criminal record checks are conducted on all SIA licence applicants. May had no previous convictions when he applied for his SIA licence.
May entered a guilty plea at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on 18 July this year and was sentenced on 24 September to an eight-week custodial sentence, suspended for 12 months. The authorities at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £154 and £2,700 in prosecution costs.
May must also undertake 20 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 60 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Close partnership working
Mark Chapman, criminal investigations manager at the SIA, commented: “This is another example of close partnership working addressing potential risks to public safety. Security operatives play a vital front line role in keeping people safe. It’s for this reason we have rigorous licensing criteria in place to make sure licence holders can be trusted to hold these positions of authority.”
Chapman added: “May concealed from us the fact that he had a criminal conviction and posed a risk to the public. He’s not fit to hold an SIA licence. We took swift action to suspend his licence when his conviction became known to us. He will not be able to work in the security industry in the future.”
When sentencing and addressing May, District Judge Murphy explained: “This offence is aggravated due to the nature of your convictions as you would not have been able to work had you disclosed them. There is an abuse of trust given your position as a door supervisor as you have to protect vulnerable persons.”
In February last year, May was convicted of a child sexual offence and placed on the Sexual Offenders List. He was already a licence holder at the time of this conviction. Licence holders must notify the SIA of any convictions identified as relevant offences.
