SIA Investigators Visit 21 Control Suites

29 September 2006: This week Security Industry Authority (SIA) investigators carried out Operation Cornflower to target Public Space Surveillance CCTV suites at shopping and retail centres. Investigators checked for SIA CCTV licences and compliance with the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Investigators visited 21 CCTV suites around the country, which were run by operatives from14 private security companies – 5 of those are in the SIA’s list of Top Companies. Of the 14 companies only 3 were found to be totally compliant.

Further action may be taken under Sections 3 and 5 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Poppy Saunders, an SIA Head of Investigation, said:

"Cornflower was a targeted, intelligence-led enforcement operation which uncovered high levels of non-compliance among some high-profile private security companies that operate Public Space Surveillance CCTV suites.

Investigators also discovered incidences of misuse of ACS Licence Dispensation Notices, which may constitute non-compliance with the legislation and non-conformance with ACS terms and conditions."

Investigations under Operation Cornflower continue.