Bournemouth man prosecuted for working as door supervisor while suspended

October 4, 2022

David Dankwa-Smith has been fined for working illegally as a door supervisor at a nightclub in Bournemouth.

Last Wednesday 28 September, David Dankwa-Smith pleaded guilty at Poole Magistrates’ Court to working as an illegal door supervisor at a Bournemouth nightclub. He did this while his Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence was suspended. On Wednesday he was fined £330 and required to pay £1,070 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34.

The SIA suspended Mr Dankwa-Smith’s door supervisor licence on 26 November 2021. Devon and Cornwall Police informed the SIA of Dankwa-Smith’s suspected criminality. Despite the suspension, the evidence showed that Dankwa-Smith worked as an unlicensed door supervisor at the Bournemouth bar and nightclub between 4 February and 5 March 2022.

In January 2022 Dorset Police advised the SIA that Dankwa-Smith was suspected of additional criminality.

The venue owner met with Dorset Police’s licensing officer on 8 March 2022. As a routine together they checked the status of Dankwa-Smith’s licence and the SIA confirmed to Dorset Police that Dankwa-Smith’s licence was suspended.

The same day the venue owner dismissed Dankwa-Smith as soon as he had discovered that his licence was suspended.

The SIA began a criminal investigation case against Dankwa-Smith, and he was invited to participate in an interview under caution, which he failed to attend.

Jenny Hart, one of the SIA’s criminal investigation managers, said that this case highlights the importance of due diligence checks prior to, and during, the deployment of security.

Mr Dankwa-Smith pleaded guilty to working as an unlicensed door supervisor while he was suspended. Suspension means suspension, he could not work as a door supervisor. He has now been prosecuted and has a criminal record. We will now be revoking Dankwa-Smith’s licence. The purpose of the licensing regime is to protect the public. It’s imperative that employers conduct regular checks on the validity of the licensed security staff. Dankwa-Smith put the public at risk and betrayed the trust of his employer.