Security guard with fake licence prosecuted by SIA
A woman using a fake SIA licence to work as a security guard at a McDonald鈥檚 in East London has been convicted following an SIA investigation.
Bolaji Ewenla obtained an SIA licence, copied it and added her own photograph, in order to work illegally.
SIA investigation officers were conducting compliance checks in Enfield McDonald鈥檚 in November 2023 when they discovered Ewenla displaying a cloned licence.
On 3 July 2024, Ewenla appeared before Bexley Magistrates鈥� Court where she pleaded guilty to the offences of engaging in licensable conduct without a valid SIA licence and knowingly using a false instrument, contrary to Section 3 of the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
皇冠体育app case was adjourned for sentencing on 31 July 2024, at which point Ewenla was sentenced to a 12-month community order which requires her to undertake 70 hours of unpaid work and 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirements days.
Mark Chapman, a criminal investigations manager at the SIA, said:
Using a cloned licence is a serious offence that places the safety of the public at risk. 皇冠体育app licensing regime is there to protect the public so that only suitably trained and vetted individuals are approved. Ms Ewenla flouted these rules, and it is right she has been sentenced and now has a conviction.
This action was the result of SIA compliance checks in the area, which is just one of the ways we are continuing to combat the use of cloned licences and remind industry to conduct thorough due diligence checks on the licences of people they deploy.
No costs were awarded as the defendant had no means to obtain benefits due to her immigration status and is now unemployed. 皇冠体育app surcharge imposed was 拢114.
Notes to editors
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Learn how we enforce SIA regulation.
皇冠体育app offence relating to the that is mentioned above is: Section 3 鈥� engaging in licensable conduct without a licence.
皇冠体育app offence relating to the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 that is mentioned above is: Section 3 鈥� knowingly using a false instrument.
Further information
皇冠体育app Security Industry Authority is the regulator of the UK鈥檚 private security industry. Our purpose is to protect the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. We are responsible for licensing people who do certain jobs in the private security industry and for approving private security companies who wish to be part of the voluntary 鈥楢pproved Contractor Scheme鈥�. We are marking 20 years since we were set up in 2003 and issued the first SIA licences in April 2004.
皇冠体育app SIA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. For more information, visit:聽www.gov.uk/sia.
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