SLED is authorised under the Security Industry Act 1997 (the Act) to make publicly available information about:
- an offence committed under the Act or the Security Industry Regulation 2016, or
- the revocation of a licence.
This does not apply to an offence dealt with by way of a penalty notice unless the amount of the penalty notice is more than $5,000.
3 October 2024
Locksmith company fined for unlicensed activities
SLED has fined Melbourne-based locksmith company Techmaster Services $11,000 for carrying on unlicensed security activities in NSW.
Techmaster Services, which advertised online in NSW as Sam Locksmiths, was fined for unlawfully providing persons to carry on a security activity while not holding a master licence.
On 14 May 2024, an unlicensed locksmith attended a western Sydney property on behalf of Techmaster Services after the resident locked themselves out.
SLED issued the company with an infringement notice as a result of its investigation of this incident. The company has paid the fine and has ceased advertising in NSW.
16 September 2024
Unlicensed locksmith company fined
SLED has fined Victorian-based locksmith company Wisetech Pty Ltd $11,000 for carrying on unlicensed locksmithing activities in NSW.
Wisetech, also trading as Pick and Lock and EZ Locksmiths, used online advertising to offer their services to NSW residents. However, the company did not hold a Master licence and unlawfully provided persons to carry on security activities in NSW.
SLED received a number of complaints about the services provided by unlicensed Wisetech locksmiths and further investigation found Wisetech had supplied unlicensed people to carry on locksmithing activities in NSW.
SLED issued the company with an infringement notice on 27 June 2024. The company has paid the fine and has removed the advertising.
26 July 2024
Master licence revoked for attempted deception
SLED has revoked a Master licence and a security operative licence linked to Adeel Shah after he pleaded guilty in court to two offences under the Security Industry Act 1997.
Shah pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with a requirement made by an Enforcement Officer and one count of altering a document required to be produced.
As well as holding a Class 1 licence, Shah was the nominated person for a Class MB licence held by AS Security Groups Pty Ltd, trading as Markhor Security Group.
Following a visit to a licensed premises in Darlinghurst, SLED required Shah to provide invoices related to the provision of security operatives at the venue. Shah provided one invoice and it was determined that he had altered the document in an attempt to deceive Enforcement Officers. Additionally, Shah failed to supply other information and documents as required by an Enforcement Officer.
The licences were revoked on the grounds that Shah had been found guilty of a prescribed offence (offences related to fraud, dishonesty or stealing).
12 July 2024
Unlicensed locksmith, locksmith company fined
SLED Investigators have fined a Melbourne-based company $16,500 for providing unlicensed locksmiths and advertising without a licence while allegedly running a locksmithing scam in NSW.
One of the unlicensed persons was issued $11,000 worth of fines for carrying on a security activity without a licence and for failing to comply with a requirement of an Enforcement Officer. Several others left the country following contact from SLED Investigators.
Due to legal reasons, we cannot name the company or persons involved at this time. Investigations into unlicensed locksmiths are continuing.
23 April 2024
Animal cruelty leads to revocation
SLED has revoked a Master licence and an operative licence issued to Penelope Carlow, whose business operated under the name Switched On Pro Security.
In September 2023, the Broken Hill-based Carlow was convicted of offences relating to the mistreatment of seven dogs.
The offences included several counts of “commit an act of cruelty upon an animal” and “being in charge of animal fail to provide vet treatment”.
She was charged and prosecuted by the RSPCA and received a term of imprisonment, which was served in the community by way of an intensive correction order.
SLED closely monitors licensees for ongoing suitability to hold a security licence, which includes considering information from other agencies that demonstrates a licensee has shown a disregard for any law.
SLED will revoke a security licence wherever it is found the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person, or that it is no longer in the public interest, for them to hold a NSW security licence.
Significant Enforcement Actions 2023
19 December 2023
Unlicensed locksmith fined
Unlicensed locksmith Peter John Upton has been fined $7,000 and issued a two-year community corrections order for offences related to carrying on unlicensed locksmith activities.
SLED Investigators found evidence that Upton had received payment for carrying on unlicensed locksmith activities between 10 October 2021 and 10 October 2022 despite the revocation of his security operative and Master licences on 5 October 2021.
It was found Upton had charged private individuals as well as strata and other companies for a range of locksmith services including supplying locks, supplying restricted cylinders keyed to master key systems, supplying and cutting security and master keys, servicing and adjusting locks, latches and mechanisms, rekeying lock cylinders, repairing locks and unlocking services.
Investigators also found Upton had been advertising locksmith services up until 16 February 2023.
Upton was convicted in court of carrying on a security activity without a licence and advertising security services without holding the appropriate licence.
He was also convicted of obstructing or failing to comply with an Enforcement Officer after he failed to provide invoices on request and refused to answer questions in an interview with an Enforcement Officer.
19 December 2023
Company fined for unlawfully providing persons to carry on security activities
SLED has fined Soclean Pty Ltd $11,000 for unlawfully providing persons to carry on security activities.
It was found Soclean Pty Ltd did not hold a NSW security Master licence when it unlawfully provided persons to carry on security activities at Menai Marketplace Shopping Centre between February and April 2023.
It is an offence under the Security Industry Act 1997 to provide persons to carry on security activities without holding a security Master licence.
9 November 2023
Failure to disclose yourself as a close associate has consequences
On 1 June 2023, SLED revoked Mr Fahid Diab Jaleel Al Qayem’s Class 1AC security licence.
Mr Al Qayem appealed the revocation in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, but the case was dismissed on 23 October 2023.
SLED had information that Mr Al Qayem was an undisclosed close associate for a number of businesses that applied for a security Master licence between 2020 and 2022. Mr Al Qayem was not eligible to be a close associate due to his previous involvement in the security company Oz Wide Security Pty Ltd, which went into external administration.
Mr Al Qayem also failed to attend an interview to answer questions related to the businesses for which he was an undisclosed close associate.
As a result, Mr Al Qayem’s security operative licence was revoked on the grounds that he was not a fit and proper person, and that it was not in the public interest for him to continue to hold a security licence.