{"id":45747,"date":"2026-06-01T07:58:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T07:58:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/?p=45747"},"modified":"2026-06-01T07:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T07:58:24","slug":"sia-fake-reference-conviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/sia-fake-reference-conviction\/","title":{"rendered":"Fake Reference, Real Conviction: Lessons from the Scarborough SIA Fraud Case"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Scarborough man has learned the hard way that the Security Industry Authority doesn’t just glance at your paperwork and wave you through. According to a statement published by the SIA<\/a>, Michael Fenwick was convicted at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court in May 2026 after submitting a fraudulent employment reference as part of his SIA licence application<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It’s a short news item with a long lesson behind it. If you’re applying for a door supervisor licence and your CV has a few gaps, faking your way through is the single worst move you can make. Here’s why \u2014 and what to do instead.<\/p>\n

What Actually Happened<\/h2>\n

Fenwick supplied a fake reference to support his licence application. The SIA’s vetting team spotted it, referred the matter for prosecution, and the magistrates’ court convicted him. The SIA confirmed the outcome in its public enforcement bulletin.<\/p>\n

It’s worth being clear about what this is and isn’t. This isn’t a technicality. It isn’t a paperwork mix-up. It is a criminal conviction for fraud, sitting on his record for years to come, and almost certainly the end of any future career in regulated security work.<\/p>\n

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Why Fake References Are a Criminal Matter, Not an Admin One<\/h2>\n

People sometimes treat licence applications like job applications \u2014 a bit of polish here, a generous interpretation there. The SIA application is different. You sign a declaration confirming the information is true. Submitting a forged document to a regulator is fraud under the Fraud Act 2006, with a maximum sentence of up to 10 years on indictment.<\/p>\n

An SIA spokesperson has repeatedly made the point that the licensing regime exists to protect the public. Faking your way in undermines that, which is why the regulator pursues these cases through the courts rather than just refusing the application. For more insights on the dos and don’ts of applying, check out our guide on common SIA licence application mistakes<\/a> people make and how to avoid them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

What the SIA Actually Verifies<\/h2>\n

A lot of applicants underestimate the checks. The SIA cross-references your application against multiple data sources, including:<\/p>\n