A security firm — and its director — have received significant fines and a criminal record after they were found to have attempted to provide unlicensed security at last year's Isle of Wight Festival.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) said company Islander Security "placed the public at risk" by supplying a person who attempted to use a counterfeit licence.
It was said the man in question was "not fit and proper" and had not done the training required to protect the public.
Ratu Baleidraulu, director of the firm, pleaded guilty to two offences at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 13.
The festival took place between September 16 to 19, 2021. Its lead security contractor, Main Event Security Services an SIA approved contractor, used several contractors to supply additional security.
On September 15, the company was carrying out checks to ensure that the security operatives deployed were legally allowed to work at the festival.
During this process it discovered a counterfeit licence which was valid, but did not belong to the man attempting to use it.
The licence was retained and the unknown man was escorted off the site.
The case was referred to the SIA’s Criminal Investigation Team, who confirmed that Islanders Protection Security Services Ltd — a firm registered in Northampton — were responsible for the deployment of the unknown man carrying the counterfeit licence.
The Security Industry Authority says Mr Baleidraulu failed to provide the required information to the SIA when requested and a prosecution was brought against both him and his company.
The person who held the legitimate licence confirmed that he had not worked at the Isle of Wight Festival.
Mark Chapman, the SIA’s Criminal Investigations Manager said:
The protection of the public at high-profile festivals is paramount. Main Event Security Services Ltd did exactly as would be expected of an approved contractor, by identifying and rejecting a suspicious licence through robust due diligence. Islander Security placed the public at risk by supplying a person who was not fit and proper and had not done the requisite training to protect the public. Baleidraulu has now had his Close Protection licence suspended and both he and his company have incurred significant fines and a criminal record. He had also not long been a director of a company and has been prosecuted.
Mr Baleidraulu was fined £300, ordered to pay £1,624 court costs and a victim surcharge of £34.
The company was also fined £250, ordered to pay £800 court costs and another victim surcharge of £34.
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