Torquay security officer and boss convicted for working unlicensed
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-15)

Scott Hannaford-Hill and Christopher Moremi-Fitch have been convicted after pleading guilty to multiple offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

On 4 September 2025 at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court, Scott Hannaford-Hill pleaded guilty to an offence under section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 for acting as an unlicensed security operative. He was given 6 months conditional discharge as well as ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26 and prosecution costs of £250, totalling £276.

In addition, Christopher Moremi-Fitch pleaded guilty to 2 offences under the same Act: a section 5 offence for the supply of an unlicensed security operative (namely Mr Hannaford-Hill) and a section 19 offence for his failure to provide information to SIA investigators. He was ordered to pay a fine of £120, a victim surcharge of £40, and £150 in prosecution costs, totalling £310.

The SIA was made aware of the unlicensed security work taking place after Devon and Cornwall Police attended an incident in Torquay on 27 July 2024 at a venue where Mr Hannaford-Hill was identified as having been working as a door supervisor. SIA records showed that Mr Hannaford-Hill’s door supervisor licence had expired on 6 October 2023.

Mr Moremi-Fitch was later confirmed as the point of contact for the company that deployed Mr Hannaford-Hill, and was interviewed under caution by the SIA in December 2024. During this interview he accepted that he had been responsible for the deployment of Mr Hannaford-Hill on 27 July.

Nicola Bolton, SIA Criminal Investigations Manager, said:

These convictions reflect the genuine threat to public safety that both front-line security and security directors operating unlicensed causes. Thank you to our partners in Devon and Cornwall Police for their support. We are committed to using all our powers, including prosecutions, to ensure the public can have trust in the security operatives that help keep them safe.

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 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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