On 1 September, two security company directors appeared before the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London.
John Anah and Tony O’Gonna, co-directors of ANCO UK Ltd, AA Guarding Ltd and Metro Guards, UK Ltd were ordered to pay a confiscation totalling £666,697 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Anah was ordered to pay £175,000 and O’Gonna was ordered to pay £491,697).
Both have until the 1 December 2015 to pay or face default custodial sentences of two years three months and three years six months respectively.
This was the conclusion of confiscation proceedings by the SIA in partnership with the London Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) after Anah and O’Gonna were found guilty of supplying 33 unlicensed guards in relation to 10 separate contracts around the greater London area.
Nathan Salmon, SIA Investigations Manager said:
“Since the conviction of Anah and O’Gonna in June 2014, the SIA has worked in partnership with the London RART to identify the criminal benefit of these directors through their businesses.
“This investigation has uncovered offences of using unlicensed security operatives far beyond the offences which led to their convictions. Between 2007 and 2014, this group of companies consistently used scores of security operatives who were not licensed by the SIA or who had licences which had expired. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act, our police partners have been able to identify assets associated with this criminality which has finally led to the confiscations against the pair.
“I believe such confiscations are important for the security industry. Principally we seek to remove the financial benefit; security regulation offending has arguable provided an unfair competitive advantage. But furthermore, removing assets means re-entry into the security industry market is more difficult. In this case, that is even more challenging with the Director Disqualifications Orders already under effect.
“I would like to thank both the London RART and SIA’s Formal Investigation Team for diligent work in achieving this result.”