Press release

Darlington security boss convicted of lying to the SIA

A Darlington man has been found guilty of providing false information to the Security Industry Authority (SIA). 

The SIA asked Adam Gilmore, owner of AG Security, to provide information concerning door supervisors deployed to work at a venue in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham. This was part of an investigation into allegations of unlicensed door supervisors at the venue.

When SIA investigators reviewed the information, two individuals on the list lived in a different part of the country and said they had never worked for Mr Gilmore. 

When the SIA interviewed Mr Gilmore under caution, he claimed the two men had worked for him and had copies of their SIA licences and identification.

He pleaded not guilty at Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on 21 May 2024. He was found guilty after trial on 10 September 2024. He was fined £180 and ordered to pay costs of £650 and a victim surcharge of £72.

Mark Chapman, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA, said: 

Our primary role as the regulator for the private security sector is to protect the public. We do this by enforcing our licensing and compliance regime.   

Knowingly or recklessly providing false information to the SIA is a criminal offence, and this conviction demonstrates that we will actively pursue and prosecute security companies and individuals who adopt this approach.

Notes to editors 

The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 that is mentioned above is: 

  • Section 22 – Providing false information

Further information

The Security Industry Authority is the regulator of the UK’s 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 ‘Approved Contractor Scheme’. We are marking 20 years since we were set up in 2003 and issued the first SIA licences in April 2004.

The SIA is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Home Office. For more information, visit: www.gov.uk/sia.

You can also find us on LinkedIn @Security Industry AuthorityFacebook @theSIAUKYouTube @TheSIAUK and X (formerly known as Twitter) @SIAuk.

Updates to this page

Published 17 September 2024