Surprise inspections reveal illegal security in Brighton

A recent operation investigating unlicensed door staff in Brighton has resulted in three arrests.

On 4 April, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), alongside Home Office Immigration Enforcement (HOIE) and Sussex Police, conducted unannounced inspections at three venues in Brighton.

The inspections were planned to check that security workers in the city’s night-time economy were properly licensed and had the right to work in the UK. The venues were chosen after intelligence suggested the use of counterfeit licences.

During the inspection, the team did not find any security operatives working without licences, however evidence was found that that unlicensed operatives had recently worked as door supervisors at two of the venues.

HOIE arrested and bailed one door supervisor for not having the right to work in the UK, while the security company that employed him will be considered for a civil penalty, which could be as much as £60,000.

A second door supervisor was detained, pending removal, for working in breach of his visa conditions. A search of the door supervisor’s home address revealed a third individual, who was also arrested for working in breach of their visa conditions.

Kirsty Grant, the SIA Criminal Investigations Officer who led the inspection, said: "We would like to thank Home Office Immigration Enforcement and Sussex Police for working with us on this operation. It’s crucial for public safety that door supervisors are properly trained and licensed. People who abuse the system are putting venue customers at risk. They are also putting themselves at risk of arrest and potentially imprisonment and deportation. Security companies should take note: deploying unlicensed staff or failing to conduct basic identity and right to work checks on your employees can be very expensive and lead to a criminal record."