A Bradford man was convicted of working illegally without a licence

Press release

A Bradford man pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court to working without a licence as a door supervisor at a Bradford nightclub.

On Tuesday, 26 January 2021, a Bradford man pleaded guilty at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court to working without a licence as a door supervisor at a Bradford nightclub. Abbas Ali Shah worked illegally between 11 November 2018 and 18 March 2019 during the busy festive season.

Shah was fined £80 and required to pay £32 as a victim surcharge plus a £670 contribution to court costs. In passing sentence the magistrates took into account Shah’s financial situation.

The prosecution, which was brought by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) followed a tip off from West Yorkshire Police. When Shah started working at a venue, he did possess a valid SIA licence. However, it expired in October 2018 and he didn’t apply for a new licence until April 2019. During the period Shah worked illegally 30 times.

Shah called West Yorkshire Police on a number of occasions to report violent incidents at the venue in November 2018. When the police invited him for an interview following an inspection of the club’s signing in book by a police officer, Shah failed to attend the interview.

Nathan Salmon, the SIA’s criminal investigations team, said:

Clubbers go out to have a good time and feel safe on a night out. Shah’s behaviour was inexcusable, especially during the hectic pre-Christmas and New Year period; he put the clubbers in his care at risk. He knew he should be licensed and decided – for a reason only known to himself – not to renew his licence. He now has a criminal record and won’t be able to work in the private security industry. There has been a delay in progressing this investigation and prosecution due to the ongoing pandemic. However, we remain steadfast in punishing breaches of security regulations that present any threat to public safety.

Shah’s employer – a West Yorkshire security business – his manager and his supervisor entered not guilty pleas at the same hearing and a trial will take place later this year.

Notes to editors:

  1. By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties can be found on our website.

  2. The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act (2001) that is mentioned in the news release is: Section 3 – working without a licence.

  3. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 is available online

Further information:

  • The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
  • For further information about the Security Industry Authority visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).
  • Media enquiries only please contact: 0300 123 9869, media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk

Published 10 February 2021



New UK Government Covid testing site opens in Glasgow Castlemilk

The UK Government has today, Wednesday 10 February, opened a new walk-through coronavirus testing centre at Barlia Sports Complex in Glasgow Castlemilk (G45 9UH).

The test centre is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history. In Scotland, this comprises of seven drive through sites, 29 walk-through sites, 35 mobile units, plus the Glasgow Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples.

In Scotland, the UK Government is providing all Covid testing and test processing outside of the NHS. Around two thirds of all daily tests are provided by the UK Government, in support of Scotland’s health services.

Tests must be booked in advance at NHS Inform or by calling 0800 028 2816. People should only book at test if they have coronavirus symptoms (a high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or a loss or change to their sense of smell or taste).

Health Minister Lord Bethell said:

To respond to the coronavirus, we have built a major testing and tracing system from scratch. We are constantly working to expand and improve it with new technologies and innovations so everyone with symptoms can get a test.

New walk-in sites like this one makes it even easier to get a test no matter where you live. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, I urge you to book a test today and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted to protect others and stop the spread of the virus.

Baroness Dido Harding, Interim Executive Chair of the National Institute for Health Protection, said:

Walk-through sites offer communities better access to coronavirus testing, so everyone with symptoms can get a test. This new site is part of our ongoing work to expand our testing network across the UK which now has the capacity to process more than 700,000 tests a day. We will continue to expand capacity to improve test turnaround times and push forward testing innovations to make sure anyone who needs a test can get one.

Please book a test if you have coronavirus symptoms: a new continuous cough, a high temperature and a loss or change in sense of smell or taste, and follow the advice of NHS Test and Protect if you are contacted.

UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart said

The UK Government is doing everything it can to support people in all parts of the UK through the pandemic.

Testing continues to play an important role how we manage the virus alongside the roll out of vaccines, helping to identify local outbreaks, slow down the rate of transmission and protect communities. I would like to thank the public for continuing to do the right thing and come forward to be tested when they display symptoms.

The UK Government continues to provide the bulk of testing in Scotland, with this new walk-through centre in Glasgow just the latest in our extensive network. We have also secured and paid for millions of doses of the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines for all parts of the UK.

Hope is on the horizon, but we can’t let up on our efforts to contain the virus.

Dr Linda De Caestecker, Director for Public Health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said:

We welcome the additional testing facility in Castlemilk which will make it easier for more people to access testing during this crucial period.

Testing, working alongside other control measures will be key to helping control and minimise the spread of the virus in our communities. I would encourage people to get tested with any symptoms suggestive of COVID, no matter how mild they are.

Simon Venn, Mitie Chief Government & Strategy Officer, said:

Our priority during the pandemic is to support the nation’s efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running. Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task. A big thank you to all the NHS staff, Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Glasgow, who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.



eAlert: 9 February 2021 – Updated Woodland Creation and Maintenance grant



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We reign when we pour

News story

Want concrete proof of our commitment to deliver the infrastructure we need on the Sellafield site?

The last concrete pour for the Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant.

The Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant finishing its last floor slab.

Last week 2 of our biggest projects on the Sellafield site were busy creating the huge slabs which form the ground floors of the buildings.

The Sellafield Product and Residue Store Retreatment Plant (SRP), which is the facility that will provide safe storage of our special nuclear material, finished their slab, a year to the day from when it started.

And elsewhere on the Sellafield site the SIXEP Continuity Project carried out the first pour on their construction site, welcoming contractor Careys to help deliver the work.

The SIXEP Continuity Plant (SCP) is being built alongside Sellafield’s Site Ion Exchange Effluent Plant, or SIXEP – what is referred to as ‘the kidneys of the site’. SIXEP does vital work to clean our liquid effluents before discharged to sea.

Both are classed as billion-pound mega projects and are being delivered through our ground-breaking Programme and Project Partners approach.

When finished the facilities will be integral parts of our mission to create a clean and safe environment for future generations.

The final SRP pour marked a hefty 8,374m3 of concrete laid, reinforced with 1,230 tonnes of steel.

Martin Chown, Chief Executive, Sellafield Ltd was on-site at SCP to see its first pour, he said:

It was great to be on site to see the first concrete pour on the SCP construction site, the visible beginning of the construction of this vital facility.

I had the chance to meet with some of the construction team and see first-hand their commitment to delivering our infrastructure with passion and pride, always with safety at the forefront.

As that first delivery of concrete arrived at SCP, the last delivery took place at another of our mega projects, the SRP – showing the pace of change across our site.

Published 10 February 2021