KSS Keyholding Ltd fined for unlicensed guards

February 9, 2016

On Thursday 28 January, Kevin Jones and Karl Francis of KSS Keyholding LTD, pleaded guilty to providing unlicensed guards at a school in Shrewsbury and were sentenced at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.

The SIA and West Mercia Police carried out an inspection at the school in October 2014 where two guards without a licence were working, a Section 3 offence under the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) 2001. They were formally interviewed and received police cautions.

The court heard that Jones, as a manager at KSS Keyholding LTD, was liable for deploying unlicensed security guards, an offence under Section 5 of the PSIA. For the same reasons Francis was also charged with a Section 5 offence under the PSIA.

Similarly, the company itself was prosecuted for providing security guards without a licence, a Section 5 PSIA offence. Francis, as director of KSS Keyholding LTD, was also liable for his involvement or neglect in supplying an unlicensed person under Section 23 of the PSIA.

At Shrewsbury Magistrates Court the judge ruled that Jones pay a fine of £350, a victim surcharge of £35 and costs of £2,000. Francis was ordered to pay a fine of £600, a victim surcharge of £60 and costs of £2,000. KSS Keyholding LTD also received a £4,000 fine and will have to pay costs of £1,986.

The SIA Investigations Manager, Nathan Salmon, said:

“KSS Keyholding LTD and director Karl Francis, supplied unlicensed security operatives, neglecting to ensure that only those who were correctly licensed and able to work with the industry did so. Mr Francis has several years’ experience in the security industry and was aware of his obligation to ensure his staff held SIA licences, and been trained and vetted. Kevin Jones, was similarly experienced in his role of supervisor for the company. All have been convicted for supplying security guards without a licence. Unlicensed security guards were working at a school premises, when children were present. It is significant to note that the charges relate to only one night of offending and the sentences determined by the Court reflect the level of negligence as unacceptable. I welcome these convictions.”