Prosecuted for ignoring SIA requests for information

A Bradford man who disappeared when asked to attend an interview at a police station has been sentenced in his absence at Leeds Magistrates’ Court.

Muhammad Irfan Aslam, who investigators want to speak to in relation to a case involving the provision of unlicensed security staff in West Yorkshire, was convicted on 22 March 2018 of failing to provide information to the SIA.

Aslam, a former director of Inovation Services Groups Ltd, ignored repeated requests for information from the SIA.  He also breached the conditions of his own SIA licence by failing to notify the Authority of a change of address.

He was found guilty of offences under Section 9 and Section 19 of the Private Security Act 2001 and fined £440, with a £44 victim surcharge.  Full costs of £2,219 were awarded against him.  Aslam has also had his SIA licence revoked, and with it his right to work in the security industry.

Pete Easterbrook, of our Criminal Investigations Team, said:

“Statutory requests from the SIA for information are not optional – they are backed by the Private Security Act 2001, and have the full force of law. Ignoring our requests, or failing to attend interviews, is not acceptable, and offenders can expect to be prosecuted. SIA licence holders should also be aware that keeping us informed of any changes of circumstance – such as a new address – is a condition of their licence. Non-compliance can lead to a revoked licence and a loss of livelihood.”

“We are still investigating a number of businesses in West Yorkshire who may be connected to this case, and who appear to believe that they can operate with little or no regard for regulation. We know who these businesses are. Our enquiries, and those of our partners, will continue. Where criminal offending is identified, we will deal with it robustly.”

Investigators originally sent requests for information to Aslam in July 2017 by Special Delivery, to both his home and work addresses. Although both letters were signed for, there was no response from Aslam.

In October 2017, they hand-delivered interview invitation letters to all of Aslam’s known addresses, including a possible new home address that had come to light during the investigation. He was asked to attend an interview at Bradford police station on 23 October 2017.

Our investigators visited the address that Aslam had registered with us, and found that it was abandoned. The previous tenants had been evicted, leaving no forwarding address.

On the day of the interview, two of our officers waited to interview Aslam at Bradford police station.  Aslam didn’t turn up, and hasn’t been heard of since.

The court has given Aslam 28 days to pay.

Source:    www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk