Two Belfast men convicted for working without licences
Two men have been given fines after working unlicensed as door supervisors at a bar in Belfast.
Jonathan McDonnell and James Gouldie worked as security at a bar in Belfast despite not holding valid Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences.
The men were discovered working unlicensed during a planned SIA inspection operation in the city on 15 September 2023.
Jonathan McDonnell pleaded guilty at Belfast Magistrates’ Court to working without a licence on 7 May 2024. He received a fine of £250 and was ordered to pay £166 in costs.
James Gouldie appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on 4 June 2024 and also entered a guilty plea. He received a fine of £100 and was ordered to pay £210 in costs.
Jenny Hart, Criminal Investigations Manager for the SIA, said:
Working unlicensed in the security industry is a serious offence that potentially puts people at risk as they go about their daily lives. We conduct regular inspection and enforcement operations across the United Kingdom to make sure individuals and venues follow these important regulations.
This case is another important reminder to anyone who wants to take the risk of working without a licence that crime does not pay.
Notes to editors
By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Learn about how we enforce SIA regulation.
The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 that is mentioned above is:
- Section 3 – engaging in licensable conduct without a licence
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 Authority, Facebook @theSIAUK, YouTube @TheSIAUK and X (formerly known as Twitter) @SIAuk.