GovWire

Press release: Fratton man prosecuted for working illegally at a Southsea Pub

Security Industry Authority

June 8
10:32 2023

Abdullahi pleaded guilty to working illegally as a door supervisor at a Southsea pub. He was prosecuted for working illegally between 25 June and 19 August last year.

Portsmouth Magistrates court sentenced Abdullahi to a 100 fine and required him to pay a 40 victim surcharge. The prosecution was brought by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) after working with other enforcement partners.

The case began when an off-duty, senior Immigration Enforcement officer, spotted Abdullahi working at the pub on 12 August 2022. The Immigration Officer knew that Abdullahi was unlicensed as he had been convicted of several offences. The officer informed the SIAs regional investigation officers who, together with licensing officers from Hampshire Constabulary, and local authority licensing officers, carried out an inspection of the pub on Friday 19 August 2022. The local authority licensing officers confirmed to SIA investigators that several weeks prior they had visited the venue, Abdullahi was working as a door supervisor, and he had absconded when they challenged him about his licence.

During the SIA investigators inspection, they spoke to the pubs manager to find out who was working that night. The pub manager advised that there were two door supervisors on duty. Abdullahi was wearing a jacket emblazoned with the words Taurus IPS Security. The SIA investigator asked Abdullahi why he was not displaying his licence. Abdullahi replied that he wasnt working and that he didnt have a licence with him. Abdullahi also said that he worked in retail and he was covering for someone else who would be working later that night.

The SIA investigator then asked the pub manager to see the pubs signing-in book which showed that Abdullahi had been working at the pub since 25 June 2022. Abdullahi then ran from the pub before he could be cautioned by SIA investigators or Hampshire Constabulary police officers.

The pubs licensing conditions state that it was required to have two SIA licensed door supervisors in post between 18:00 to close on Friday and Saturday nights.

Abdullahi attended an interview under caution with SIA investigators on 2 November at Portsmouth when he admitted to the offending.

Nicola Bolton, one of the SIAs Criminal Investigations Managers, said the SIAs licensing regime is to protect the public by ensuring that licence holders are fit and proper and are properly vetted and qualified.

Abdullahi worked illegally and put the public at risk from harm as he was wholly unsuitable to be a door supervisor. He was caught red-handed and pretended to be something he wasnt, a licensed individual. This prosecution has meant that the risk of him working illegally in future has been reduced.

I extend our gratitude to our enforcement partners, the Home Office Immigration and Enforcement Officer for identifying Abdullahi on his night off, Hampshire Constabulary and Portsmouth City Council.

Notes to editors:

Further information:

Related Articles

Comments

  1. We don't have any comments for this article yet. Why not join in and start a discussion.

Write a Comment

Your name:
Your email:
Comments:

Post my comment

Recent Comments

Follow Us on Twitter

Share This


Enjoyed this? Why not share it with others if you've found it useful by using one of the tools below: