SIA leads joint operation to identify illegal working practices and tax fraud in Birmingham
The Security Industry Authority (SIA), HMRC and West Midlands Police recently carried out a joint operation in Birmingham to ensure that security staff were employed legitimately and treated fairly.
Teams attended two Christmas markets plus several licensed venues in the city centre.
SIA and HMRC teams spoke to security operatives to check the correct taxes were being paid and to ensure they were not victims of any labour abuse.
During the course of the targeted operation teams carried out 78 checks on operatives. All operatives were correctly licensed.
Further enquires will be made to check on those companies using self-employed staff, and to ensure operatives were paid the national minimum living wage.
Paul Fullwood, SIA Director of Inspections and Enforcement, who took part in the operation said:
Great to be out in Birmingham City Centre on an SIA led operation as part of our ongoing inspection activity across the UK of the private security industry.
I was impressed by the overall professionalism from the security operatives we spoke with who were doing a great job in areas with high public footfalls.
Part of our inspection work with HMRC was to check for operation of PAYE with security operatives and identify tax abuses in the security industry. We are determined to ensure operatives are treated fairly and to create a level playing field for legitimate businesses who play by the rules.
The SIA has been working with HMRC to educate security companies about which security staff they need to operate PAYE for.
5,000 more operatives are now correctly being paid through PAYE who were previously self-employed, protecting their rights and benefits.
Learn how HMRC rules apply to the security operatives deployed in the private security industry. Read an example that features typical working arrangements for the industry. It shows how you can apply the employment status indicators to real-world situations.
Further information:
- The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
- For further information about the Security Industry Authority or to sign up for email updates visit: www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on LinkedIn Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (@SIAuk).