On 31 May 2016, Adam and Brendan Moran of Moran Security Services Ltd were sentenced for falsely claiming to be under the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) and supplying unlicensed security operatives, at Doncaster Magistrates Court.
Adam and Brendan Moran pled guilty on the 4th of May at a previous hearing where the court heard that SIA investigators carried out a site visit in September 2015 where they found three unlicensed security operatives. One was working on an expired licence and the other two were unlicensed, a Section 5 PSIA (2001) offence. This included Adam Moran, the son of director Brendan Moran. As a result, Brendan Moran as director, was liable for the supply of unlicensed guards through consent or neglect under Section 23 PSIA (2001). The enquiry revealed that the deployment of the three unlicensed guards occurred over 6 months, between May and October 2015, on two sites and on nearly 100 separate occasions.
SIA investigators looked into this and found that from March 2014 to Dec 2015 and in November and December 2015, invoices were issued by the company which displayed the ACS logo. The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is a voluntary a system of inspection for providers of security services, and companies registered as ACS have satisfactorily meet a specific criteria and agreed standards. Registered ACS companies can advertise themselves as such and distinguish themselves within the private security industry. As Moran Security Services Ltd were not an ACS company this is a Section 16 offence under the PSIA (2001).
Through further investigation, it became clear that Moran Security Services Ltd had knowledge of the ACS scheme as they had applied to become an ACS company in May 2011. However they withdrew their application after providing inadequate information.
Moran Security Services Ltd was fined £2,000 for Section 5 and 16 offences under the PSIA (2001). The company was also ordered to pay costs of £3,049.08 and a surcharge of £120.
Both Adam and Brendan plead guilty to Section 5, 16 and 23 PSIA (2001) offences. Adam Moran was fined £1,000; ordered to pay costs of £3,000 and a victim surcharge of £100. Brendan Moran was fined £1,000; ordered to pay £3,000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £100.
SIA Investigations Manager, Nigel Davies noted that:
“The Magistrates recognition that the circumstances were serious in nature are welcomed and the sentences reflect this. The SIA is grateful for the assistance from the buyers of security in this case who were led to believe that Moran Security were a bona fide ACS company.
This case highlights the importance of the integrity of the Approved Contractor Scheme and that only those businesses who have achieved the standards required are permitted to use the ACS logo”.