Yesterday [10 February] the director of Arfeen Security Limited was given a suspended prison sentence after pleading guilty to several security offences.
At Derby Magistrate’s Court, Malik Manzoor Sabri, 40, pleaded guilty to engaging in licensable conduct without an SIA licence, failing to provide information to the Security Industry Authority when requested, and three charges of providing false information to the SIA.
Sabri, of Becher Street, Derby, was sentenced to: 12 weeks imprisonment (suspended for 12 months), a 12 week curfew order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and to pay prosecution costs of £14,298.
In January 2013, the SIA began making enquiries into Arfeen Security and a statutory request for information was made of Sabri. When the material provided was tested, it was established that Sabri had supplied false information regarding the company’s employees and its customers.
Although Sabri had held a Door Supervisor licence, it had expired in March 2013 and Sabri continued to act as the director of Arfeen Security unlicensed between April and July 2013.
Arfeen Security had been part of the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme from January 2011. Once the SIA investigation commenced and it was discovered that Sabri was unlicensed, consideration was given to suspending the company’s approval. Mr Sabri voluntarily withdrew the company in July 2013 before this action could be taken.
The SIA’s Head of Investigation, Nathan Salmon, said: “The SIA continually monitors intelligence received regarding non-compliance with the Private Security Industry Act, including intelligence on members of the Approved Contractor Scheme.
“For Arfeen Security and Mr Sabri this led to an investigation where Sabri proceeded to provide incomplete and false information to the regulator. We suspected that this was an attempt to conceal wider offending including deploying unlicensed security operatives.
“Mr Sabri’s actions have come at a high price. In addition to this tough penalty and financial burden ordered by the court, the investigation led to the company’s withdrawal from the Approved Contractor Scheme.
“Arfeen Security no longer trades and given his conviction for these offences, Mr Sabri will be unable to work in the security industry in the future.”