Falcon's Swoop on Manchester Finds 95% Compliance

8 August 2008: On Thursday 7th August, teams of Security Industry Authority (SIA) investigators carried out large scale random checks on security sites in and around Manchester to test for compliance with the Private Security Industry Act 2001. This was the second time SIA investigators mounted such a huge operation - the first was in Birmingham in May 2008.

Operation Falcon targeted 97 premises in Manchester including Old Trafford, shopping centres, amusement arcades, business premises, hotels, galleries, conference and event centres, a Magistrates' Court, and a college.

• 97 premises or sites were visited
• 149 security operatives checked
• 26 security companies inspected
• 142 operatives were SIA licensed
• Compliance level at 95%

Alleged offences encountered were:

• 7 Section 3 offences (working without a licence)
• 6 Section 9 offences (failing to display a licence)

Andy Drane, SIA Director of Operations said:

"Although our operations are usually intelligence-led, random inspection checks - particularly on this scale - reinforce our understanding of how compliant the private security industry is.

In May of this year, we carried out the first of our large-scale operations in Birmingham and found a similar level of compliance. I hope that further operations will continue to show that over 90% of the private security industry abides by the law. But perhaps the true value of these exercises is the quality and quantity of the intelligence gathered which helps us maintain our high standards."

Notes to Editors:

• Information on enforcement action and how the SIA obtains and uses intelligence can be found on the enforcement pages of the SIA website.
• The maximum penalty for committing an offence such as working without a licence or supplying unlicensed staff is six months' imprisonment and/or fine up to £5,000 (or trial on indictment to crown court, whereby an unlimited fine and/or five years' imprisonment could be imposed).
• SIA licences can be checked through the Register of Licence Holders, available 24-hours on the SIA website.