On 28 October 2025, Jonathan Swales appeared at Laganside Courts and pleaded guilty to one count of making a false statement to the SIA. This is an offence under Section 22 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
Alongside his suspended 4-month prison sentence, Mr Swales was ordered to pay a fine of £150 and £56 in court fees, totalling £206.
This came after Mr Swales was refused an SIA licence in October 2024, before reapplying in December of the same year listing a different address and stating that he had lived there since 2005.
The SIA believed that this was done in an attempt to circumvent the eligibility checks that had previously prevented him from obtaining a licence. It was also established that Mr Swales had been known by a previous name, which he failed to disclose on his SIA licence application form.
Mr Swales declined to attend an interview with the SIA on the matter and so was summonsed to appear at Laganside Courts in respect to this offence, where the guilty plea was then entered.
Jenny Hart, SIA Criminal Investigations Manager said
By lying to the SIA in his application in an attempt to illegally obtain an SIA licence, Mr Swales was attempting to put the public’s safety at risk. The SIA’s licensing checks are in place to ensure an applicant is fit and proper to hold a licence and work in the private security industry. We will use the full power of the law to prosecute anyone who seeks to undermine those checks.
Background
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 GOV.UK/SIA.
The offence relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 that is mentioned above is
- Section 22 – Making a false statement to the SIA
The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
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