The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has successfully used the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize over £44,500 from a Lincolnshire security boss, Trevor Frater. This action follows a financial investigation that uncovered previously hidden assets.
Mr. Frater, who had previously paid only a fraction of a confiscation order in 2021, now faces the possibility of jail time unless he fully settles the amount owed. This case highlights the SIA’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for their illegal actions in the private security industry.
Mr. Trevor Frater’s Confiscation Orders
Initial Confiscation Order and Hidden Assets
In November 2021, Trevor Frater was ordered to pay £44,518.78 in confiscation orders as a result of multiple convictions under the Private Security Industry Act in 2021 and 2023.
At the time of the initial confiscation, Frater declared assets of only £391.93, despite the court determining that he had received nearly £34,000 from his criminal activities.
However, the SIA’s financial investigation later uncovered over £100,000 in available assets that Frater had hidden. This discovery allowed the SIA to revisit the 2021 confiscation order and demand that Frater repay £33,979.51 of the criminal benefit from his earlier offenses.
New Confiscation Order for 2023 Conviction
In addition to the reassessment of the 2021 confiscation order, a new confiscation order was issued for Frater’s 2023 conviction, amounting to £10,539.27. This brings the total amount he now owes to £44,518.78.
Deadline and Consequences of Non-Payment
Trevor Frater has until 25 July 2025 to pay the full amount or face imprisonment. If he fails to comply, he could face eight months behind bars, and the confiscation order would still be owed, along with any accrued interest.
The SIA’s Enforcement and Message to the Industry
Pete Easterbrook, Director of Inspections & Enforcement at the SIA, emphasized that Frater’s actions put public safety at risk. By acting as an unlicensed security operator and deploying unlicensed staff, he not only endangered innocent people but also profited significantly from his illegal actions.
The SIA’s recovery of these assets and the reassessment of Frater’s original confiscation order send a strong message to others in the industry: those who engage in illegal activities will not be able to keep their profits, regardless of how they try to hide them.
The Role of the SIA in Regulating the Security Industry
The SIA is the regulatory body responsible for overseeing the private security industry in the UK. By law, security operatives must hold a valid SIA licence to work under contract.
The SIA’s duties also include managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) and ensuring that security operatives follow legal guidelines.
The SIA is tasked with enforcing the Private Security Industry Act 2001, which includes offences like engaging in licensable conduct without a licence, supplying unlicensed operatives, and obstructing SIA officials or failing to respond to requests for information.
The case of Trevor Frater underscores the importance of the SIA’s work in regulating the private security industry and holding individuals accountable for breaking the law.
With a total confiscation order of over £44,500, Frater’s case serves as a clear warning to others in the industry that the SIA will relentlessly pursue those who seek to profit from illegal actions.
As Mr. Frater now faces a tight deadline to pay, the SIA’s message remains firm: there is no place for criminal behavior in the private security sector.
