Security industry determined to tackle illegal workers

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has hosted a seminar with the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to tackle the issue of illegal working in the security industry. The seminar involved speakers from the industry regulator and the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) and also provided best practice examples of vetting and screening employees from BSIA members G4S Security Services (UK) Ltd and SectorGuard plc. The event was also attended by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker.

BSIA Chief Executive, David Dickinson, comments: "This seminar represents the determination of the private security industry to tackle any instance of illegal working in our industry. By working closely with the regulator and the BIA and by exchanging best practice, the security industry is making significant strides in eliminating illegal working."

"BSIA members are at the forefront of the fight against illegal working and acknowledge their responsibilities in this area. Our members have been in close liaison with the BIA and SIA over the past few months to ensure that any incidence of illegal working is detected and robust systems are put in place to make sure that this situation cannot reoccur. Going forward as an Association we will remain constructive, consultative, consistent and productively critical to guarantee that the current situation is resolved for the benefit of the industry, its customers and the wider public."

Home Office Minister, Vernon Coaker, says: "The Government is committed to helping employers fulfil their legal responsibility to prevent illegal migrant workers from being employed in the private security industry. Different Government agencies have worked together closely with the BSIA and SIA to take rapid and effective action to deal with illegal working in the security industry."

"Only a small minority of employers knowingly employ illegal workers. Next month new civil penalties will make it easier to issue fines of up to £10,000 to those employers who employ illegal workers having failed to carry out specified document checks. A further tough new criminal offence of knowingly employing an illegal migrant worker will carry a maximum sentence of two years in prison, and will enable the Border and Immigration Agency to crack down on businesses that purposely break the rules."

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