Unvetted security staff: Boss quits

Some 38 temporary staff were cleared to work for the Security Industry Authority before they were given the proper clearance, ministers admitted. They ordered a review of decisions made by the temporary staff, amid fears convicted criminals could have been given permission to work illegally.

The board of the SIA announced chief executive Mike Wilson, who has been in post for only 14 months, would leave next week. In a statement, the chairman of the board, Ruth Henig, said the decision was made by "mutual consent".

The agency was criticised last month after it emerged around 30,000 people working in the industry were doing so without a licence. Auditors also found it overspent by £17 million last year.

The agency was previously attacked after it approved more than 5,000 illegal immigrants to work in Britain. Some illegal workers got jobs in Whitehall, including one employed to guard the Prime Minister's car.

Junior Home Office minister Alan Campbell said not all the decisions made by staff who had not been vetted would be reviewed. Instead a "targeted sample" of licence approvals would be examined.

In a statement to MPs, he said: "We have become aware of some failings in the SIA's compliance with Home Office requirements for security clearance for SIA employees.

"Home Office guidance issued to the SIA stipulates that no person should be employed in a permanent or temporary capacity, without appropriate confirmed security clearance.

"All permanent SIA staff have confirmed security clearance. It became clear, however, that some agency workers had not received appropriate security clearance before commencing employment with the SIA."

Mr Campbell said the 38 agency staff were "removed from SIA premises and had all access to SIA systems withdrawn" while security checks were carried out. As of Thursday, six staff had still not been approved to work.