Security Industry Authority
Dedej was fined 1,666 and required to pay prosecution costs of 2,416.33 and a victim surcharge of 167 by 31 May.
The case began when the SIAs London investigators carried out a routine licence inspection in Wembley on 7 July 2021 during the run up to the Euro Final 2021 at Wembley Stadium. During the inspection they visited a nearby Irish theme bar on Wembley Park Drive and checked the SIA licence of Erjon Xhika. The licence was fake and when he was questioned by investigators, he disappeared from the venue and the fake licence was seized. Erjon Xhika will appear in court on 16 October 2023.
The manager of the venue gave the SIA investigator the security companys business card which featured the SIAs Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) logo. The sole director of the security company was Gentian Dedej. As the business was only several months old it was not possible for it to have achieved SIA approved contractor status.
The SIA began a criminal investigation and on 11 August 2021, SIA investigators requested information from Dedej and he failed to supply the requested information. On 1 September, Dedej replied to SIA investigators but again failed to supply them with the information they sought. Dedej joined SIA investigators for an interview under caution on 23 November 2021 at the SIAs Head Office.
During the interview an account was given to the SIA which implied that Dedej knew the man who was using a fake SIA licence. He implied that he had never employed the man although he did admit to failing to provide the SIA with the information it required. During the meeting Dedej indicated that he would provide a full response. The following day Dedej sent the SIA investigator an e-mail containing payslips for the employees that did not match the previous days responses or those he gave during the interview.
On 21 December 2021, Dedejs solicitors sent further documentation, however this again did not match those documents received previously. Mr Dedejs solicitors indicated that they would provide further documentation, and this never occurred.
The magistrate said at Dedejs sentencing:
These are matters which can be dealt with by way of a financial penalty. That is not to undermine the serious nature of them. The court has to send a message that individuals cannot claim to be members of approved schemes which they are not. The way to make that message clear is to pass a fine that recognises your income and the seriousness of your offending.
Nicola Bolton, one of the SIAs Criminal Investigations Managers said that this case demonstrates the importance of the licensing regime which is there to protect the public particularly during a time like the Euros tournament.
Dedej falsely claimed to be an approved contractor. The SIA Approved Contractor Scheme provides a recognised hallmark of quality within the private security industry. Legitimate approved contractors were potentially denied valuable business by the actions of Dedej who skewed the security market during the run up to the Euro 2021 tournament. The SIA will continue to seek out and pursue those businesses that illegally promote themselves as being accredited approved contractors.
His licence has been suspended and he will likely lose his licence and will not be able to supply private security as he will have a criminal record.
Notes to editors:
- By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence
- Read about SIA enforcement and penalties
- The offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 that are mentioned above are as follows:
- Section 16 Holding out as an approved contractor
- Section 19 Failing to provide information relating to an investigation
- Section 22 Proving false information to the SIA
- The SIAs Approved Contractor Scheme is voluntary and exists to raise performance standards
- To be an approved contractor a business needs to meet a sector-specific approval based on a relevant set of qualifying criteria that is independently assessed
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. The SIAs 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 or to sign up for email updates visit: www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on LinkedIn Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twi