After the Security Industry Authority (SIA) received intelligence about the centres, Operation Nevada was launched involving SIA investigators, the Metropolitan Police Service, awarding bodies (HABC, EDI, Edexcel), the qualifications regulator OfQual and the UK Border Agency (UKBA).
One individual has been arrested by police on suspicion of fraud, while the police and the UKBA are continuing to investigate various offences.
Unannounced visits led by the SIA took place at training providers’ premises in locations across London and South East of England on 12 November last year.
Evidence was found of serious training malpractice, including the centres registering candidates and awarding them certificates when they had not sat the examination.
As a result, four London-based training providers – Divine College, St Joseph’s College of Science and Technology, ME Training and Inter-Continental College – have had their approval to provide training withdrawn by their awarding bodies.
Over 300 certificates withdrawn
More than 300 certificates awarded to candidates registered with these centres have now been withdrawn.
Of these qualifications, 69 had been used to obtain an SIA licence (for door supervision), all of which have been suspended.
These licence holders have a 90-day period following the suspension to gain a valid qualification, after which time their licence will be revoked.
The SIA’s director of compliance and enforcement, Dave Humphries, said: “Investigations into allegations of training malpractice are a key part of our compliance activity. In the interests of public protection, it’s vital that all operatives working in the security industry are properly trained to deal with the demands of their role.”
Humphries continued: “This operation involved very successful joint working with partner organisations, and has provided a model that will be used again in the future to close down training providers where there is any evidence of misconduct.”
