Family-run Portsmouth security company fined for supplying unlicensed security

On Tuesday 1 June, the company’s operations manager, Ashley O’Brien, appearing on behalf of her father’s business Standeasy Security Ltd pleaded guilty to employing two unlicensed people. The company was fined £220, required to pay court costs of £625 and a victim surcharge of £32.

On 16 March 2021, Steven Price of Portsmouth, was convicted (in his absence) at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court for working as unlicensed security between 1 October 2019 and 18 May 2020. He was supplied to a customer 44 times between 1 March 2020 and 18 May 2020. The court ordered Steven Price to pay a fine of £220, required him to pay costs of £625 and a victim surcharge of £32. Following his conviction, Price’s licence was revoked, and he now has a criminal record.

Another man, Lee Martin of Fareham worked unlicensed at the site for Standeasy 109 times between 1 March 2020 and 31 August 2020. He was convicted at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on 1 June 2021 and he was fined £1,000, required to pay costs of £500 and a victim surcharge of £100. He will also have a criminal record and his licence has been suspended.

Nathan Salmon, our SIA’s criminal investigation manager said:

Standeasy Security Ltd has carried out 173 shifts of unlicensed security for the premises. The site is sensitive, and the unlicensed security provision put the site at additional risk. The contract between the premises and Standeasy Security Ltd specifically stated that security provided would include licensed staff. Standeasy Security Ltd have failed their client and the community it serves.

Notes to editors:

by law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence

read about SIA enforcement and penalties

the offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) mentioned above are:

Standeasy Security Ltd: Section 5 (deploying unlicensed security)

Lee Martin: Section 3 (working unlicensed)

Steven Price: Section 3 (working unlicensed)

read the Private Security Industry Act 2001

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. Our 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 visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).