SIA mounts nationwide operation to disrupt labour exploitation
The SIA has carried out a surprise nationwide operation in conjunction with HMRC and Home Office Immigration Enforcement to tackle labour exploitation.
On Wednesday 18 September 2024, compliance and criminal investigation officers from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) led an extensive enforcement and intelligence-gathering operation at 35 separate locations across the United Kingdom.
The SIA mounted the operation to address concerns regarding tax evasion, fraudulent employment status, breaches of National Minimum Wage legislation, immigration offences, and breaches of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 within the private security industry.
Paul Fullwood, the SIA’s Director of Inspections and Enforcement, said:
This action involved all of our regional teams in a dynamic and co-ordinated effort to disrupt and dissuade those who direct or facilitate labour exploitation. We are taking the fight to the criminals and thereby supporting legitimate private security business and protecting the public. We would like to thank HMRC and Home Office Immigration Enforcement for their support in this important work.
The operation was one of a number of enforcement actions which the SIA has planned across the country under Operation EMPOWER, which is intended to tackle the problems associated with labour exploitation.
Ronnie Megaughin, the SIA’s Head of Compliance and Inspections, said:
This successful operation highlights our commitment to tackling these harmful and unlawful activities by unscrupulous individuals and businesses. For every corrupt and criminal action carried out to maximise profit, there is the strong likelihood of a victim who is being deprived of their rights. We will continue to work with industry representatives, law enforcement partners, and fellow regulatory agencies to create a hostile environment within the private security industry for these criminals. Operation EMPOWER will be a long-running and focused operation. I encourage anyone with information concerning unlawful activity within the industry to contact us.
Anyone who is concerned about labour exploitation within the private security industry can report it to the SIA and other agencies. Learn more about Operation EMPOWER in Paul Fullwood’s blog.
Notes to editors
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Learn how we enforce SIA regulation.
Further information
The Security Industry Authority is the regulator of the UK’s private security industry. Our purpose is to protect the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. We are responsible for licensing people who do certain jobs in the private security industry and for approving private security companies who wish to be part of the voluntary ‘Approved Contractor Scheme’. We are marking 20 years since we were set up in 2003 and issued the first SIA licences in April 2004.
The SIA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. For more information, visit: www.gov.uk/sia.
You can also find us on LinkedIn @Security Industry Authority, Facebook @theSIAUK, YouTube @TheSIAUK and X (formerly known as Twitter) @SIAuk.
Media enquiries
For media enquiries only please contact: [email protected]