Convicted security boss loses hidden assets in court confiscation
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-18)

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has used the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize over £44,500 after financial investigation revealed previously unknown assets.

A Lincolnshire security boss who got away with paying less than one percent of a confiscation order made in November 2021 must now pay the rest, or face jail, after the Security Industry Authority (SIA) tracked down his hidden assets.

Trevor Frater was ordered to pay a total of £44,518.78 across 2 confiscation orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2002/29/contents) on 25 April 2025 at Lincoln Crown Court. The matter was listed for further hearing on 13 June 2025 to ensure that Mr Frater’s available wealth was correctly recorded in the confiscation orders. The orders were granted in relation to multiple convictions under the Private Security Industry Act (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/12/contents) in 2023 and 2021.

When the confiscation order was made for the 2021 convictions (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/repeat-offence-by-louth-security-boss-results-in-confiscation-of-30000-as-proceeds-of-crime) Mr Frater’s available assets were declared to be £391.93. This was despite a determination from the court that he had received almost £34,000 in financial benefit from his crimes.

The SIA financial investigator was able to discover that over £100,000 was now available to Mr Frater, which meant that the 2021 confiscation order could be revisited to ensure he has to pay back £33,979.51 of his criminal benefit from the previous offending. Alongside this, a new confiscation order was granted in relation to the 2023 conviction (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-lincolnshire-men-prosecuted-for-supplying-illegal-security) that came to a sum of £10,539.27.

Mr Frater has until 25 July 2025 to pay both sums in full or face 8 months imprisonment, at which point the confiscation order would still be owed, plus accrued interest.

Pete Easterbrook, SIA Director of Inspections & Enforcement, said:

On multiple occasions across the last 5 years, Trevor Frater has put the public’s safety at risk by both acting as an unlicensed security operative and deploying unlicensed security operatives. Not only did he put innocent people at risk, but he also profited substantially from these actions.

These confiscation orders, and especially the reassessment of the 2021 order, make clear to all bad actors within this industry: you will not profit from your crime. We will find your assets, no matter how they are hidden, and recover them.

Background

By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Information about SIA enforcement and penalties (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/learn-how-we-enforce-sia-regulation) can be found on GOV.UK/SIA (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/security-industry-authority).

The offences relating to the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/12/contents) mentioned above are:
- section 3 – engaging in licensable conduct without a licence
- section 5 – supply of unlicensed operatives
- section 19 – obstructing SIA officials or those with delegated authority, or failing to respond to a request for information
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 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/12/contents). 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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