Coleraine man convicted of fraud after using cloned SIA licence

A Coleraine man has been convicted of fraud after being caught working with a cloned Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence at a local pub.

On 1 August 2025, Martin McAuley was found guilty at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court of fraud by false representation and possession of an article used in fraud.

The conviction was delivered in his absence after he failed to attend his scheduled hearings.

Mr McAuley had previously missed a court date on 4 July 2025, when the case was adjourned. At that time, the court warned that if he failed to attend the rescheduled hearing, the matter would be dealt with without him present.

The court fined him £250 for each offence, as well as imposing an offender levy of £15, bringing the total to £515. He has 20 weeks to pay the full amount.

Found with a cloned licence

The prosecution followed an incident on 5 May 2023, when an SIA investigations officer discovered Mr McAuley working as a door supervisor at The Railway Arms, Coleraine, while in possession of a cloned licence.

Tara Moutray, SIA Criminal Investigations Manager, said:

“Martin McAuley put the people of Coleraine at risk by using a cloned SIA licence to work as a door supervisor without undergoing the proper training or licencing process. I am happy he has now been convicted despite his failure to attend court to face the consequences of this decision.

“The discovery and prosecution of this fraud is a testament to the service our team of investigations officers provides to the public, both in Northern Ireland and across the rest of the UK.”

The law on security licences

By law, security operatives working under contract must hold and display a valid SIA licence. Offences in this case fell under the Fraud Act 2006, including:

• Section 2 – Fraud by false representation

• Section 6 – Possession of an article used in fraud

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the body responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK. It reports to the Home Secretary under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, overseeing compulsory licensing of security operatives and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).