An Essex-based security company went into receivership after an investigation by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) led to customers leaving the security company.
In September 2012, George Malekos, 42, was the director of Shadow Facilities Management Limited (Shadow) during the SIA investigation.
After a pre-Olympic operation by the Metropolitan Police, SIA investigators were alerted that an unlicensed door supervisor, supplied by Shadow, was found working at a pub in south London. Later, SIA investigators made several requests for information from Malekos, however, very little material was supplied. Malekos claimed that a flood at his office had caused damage to the company’s records.
He was later interviewed at a police station where he maintained that his company had not supplied any unlicensed staff and that he had provided as much information as he could.
On Monday, February 24, at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) in London, Malekos pleaded guilty to failing to provide information to the SIA. He was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,200. His company pleaded guilty to one count of supplying an unlicensed door supervisor and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £100.
In mitigation, defence counsel for Malekos explained “as a result of these proceedings, customers left Shadow and the company has subsequently gone into administration; the business crumbled”.
SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon, said after the court case: “Due to the denial of Mr Malekos, this prosecution has taken significant time to progress through the courts.
“Despite this, the actions of the defendant have resulted in him and his company being convicted of significant offences which may ultimately mean he is prevented from holding an SIA licence and working in the security industry.
“This case demonstrates that the SIA works closely with partner agencies, in this case the Metropolitan Police, to bring prosecutions against companies and individuals who contravene the legislation and who fail or refuse to engage with us. We will continue to work in this way to ensure that all those working in the industry, companies and individuals, are doing so legally.”
Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on the website: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/enforcement
Meanwhile in a separate case on Tuesday, February 25, an Oxfordshire-based security director was convicted at Banbury Magistrates Court for Private Security Industry Act 2001 offences. Colin Wright, 45, of Ampney Cruis, Cirencester, was fined £500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,400 after pleading guilty to the charge of supplying three unlicensed door supervisors.
This matter was brought to the attention of Security Industry Authority investigators by Thames Valley Police after an operation checking door supervisor licences in Witney town centre.
During the operation two door supervisors were found to be working unlicensed. Upon further investigation it was discovered that three unlicensed door supervisors had been regularly supplied by Coresecure, over a period of one year, to the venue. When interviewed by SIA investigators Wright, owner of Coresecure, admitted the offence.
SIA Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon said: “I’m very pleased with the outcome of this investigation. It shows that the SIA and local Police work in tandem, to ensure that the public can have confidence that door supervisors, who play an important part in the night-time economy, are properly trained and licensed.
“We will continue to work closely with partners to ensure that breaches of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 are quickly and appropriately dealt with. Our action in this matter was with the purpose of clearing out poor practice within the industry.”
