SIA / Police Seminar Extends Seahog-style Enforcement Nationwide

4 April 2007: Yesterday in London, Andy Drane, Acting Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), hosted a multi-agency law enforcement seminar to promote best practice and joint-agency working across the country. The example highlighted at the seminar was the successful Merseyside Police led Operation Seahog – which targeted rogue security companies, unlicensed security activity and links to serious and organised crime.

Opening the day, Andy Drane reminded the audience of police, SIA investigators and representatives from the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Department for Works and Pensions and HM Immigration Service, of the importance and benefits of closer working and of areas where operations under SIA legislation can help reduce wider criminality such as extortion, illegal drugs, illegal immigration and violence.

Andy said:

"Today’s seminar will build on the successes of Operation Seahog; promoting closer joint-agency working and greater sharing of information and resources.

We all have a clear role in working together to help protect the public from crime and the fear of crime. SIA licensing, with its aims of raising standards in the private security industry and to driving out criminality, plays a key role in ensuring those in positions of trust are fit and proper people and ensuring rogue security companies are not being used as a front for serious and organised criminal activity.

Working together we can all tackle unlicensed security activity and by removing rogue security companies, ensure criminals do not get a foothold in security business at the expense of legitimate security companies."

Speaking to the attendees from all over the country, officers from Merseyside Police outlined the rationale, aims and objectives of Operation Seahog and the results and outcomes that are successfully removing the rogue security companies and unlicensed security activity from the Merseyside area.