Reports of Private Security Industry Act offences in Sheffield
Published 27 May 2022
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1. Request
On your website, you have a report system which allows users to report the following options plus 5 more which I have left out.
- Option 1: Individuals working without a licence
- Option 2: Individuals working with fake licences
- Option 3: Individuals working with revoked or suspended licences
- Option 4: Individuals working with expired licences
- Option 5: Individuals working with licences that were fraudulently obtained
For the above 5 options I am requesting the following information for each option:
- how many of these reports were individuals in Sheffield?
- what was the reasoning behind these reports (if possible in detail)?
2. Response
I confirm that the SIA holds the information you have requested which can be found below:
- Option 1: Individuals working without a licence - 2 reports
- Option 2: Individuals working with fake licences – 0 reports
- Option 3: Individuals working with revoked or suspended licences – 0 reports
- Option 4: Individuals working with expired licences – 0 reports
- Option 5: Individuals working with licences that were fraudulently obtained – 0 reports
When the SIA receives information from a member of the public regarding the conduct of a private security business or its operatives it is treated as intelligence. This is because any information received can only be utilised by the SIA in so far as it informs any investigation into breaches of the PSIA or the licence conditions.
The SIA does not typically release intelligence or provide an update regarding any action taken in relation to intelligence. This policy was developed in line with the Freedom of Information Act, which provides public authorities with an exemption from disclosing information relating to investigations and proceedings an authority conducts (section 30) and from disclosing any information that would prejudice the authority’s ability to exercise its statutory functions (section 31). Subsection (3) of both of these sections provides the SIA with an exemption from confirming or denying whether any intelligence is held.
The SIA acknowledges there is a public interest in the public being made aware of whether and what action is taken by the SIA in relation to intelligence it holds because it allows for public scrutiny of its effectiveness as a regulator and contributes to public confidence regarding standards within the security industry. However, the SIA considers there is a more significant public interest in ensuring that the disclosure of intelligence should not prejudice its ability to conduct is investigations and exercise its regulatory functions, for example by protecting the integrity of ongoing and/or future investigations.
[Reference: FOI 0339]