Lydia Edwards illegally employed migrant workers as security guards
A Gisborne woman convicted of immigration breaches last year has been granted permission to resume work in the security industry under several conditions, according to reports.
Trish McConnell, head of the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority, made the decision after Lydia Edwards applied for the renewal of her certificate of approval.
Edwards' private security licence was suspended in March 2023 after it was discovered that she illegally employed migrant workers as security guards, Stuff reported.
McConnell granted Edwards' renewal application under the condition that she must be employed by a security licence holder or venue that is not owned or managed by her or a close family member.
She also should not be involved in employing security staff or management of a security business for two years.
"I am satisfied that Ms Edwards remains suitable to be a responsible security employee but not in the medium term to own or manage a security business," McConnell said as quoted by Stuff.
The authority head attributed her decision to various references provided by Edwards, including ones from police and security licence holders, who spoke highly of her character.
While noting that her offending was at a higher end of the moderate spectrum, McConnell said Edwards' pre-sentence report said her likelihood of re-offending was low.
"She advises that because of her offending she has lost her business and livelihood but wants to be able to resume work in the security industry," McConnell said in her decision. "She has provided confirmation from a local security business that she will be offered casual guarding work in 2025 should her COA be renewed."
Edwards and her firm East Security were convicted last year for allowing multiple migrant workers to breach their visa conditions and work unlawfully as security guards.
The migrant workers, who were Fijian nationals, were illegally made to work as security guards with East Security after arriving in New Zealand.
Their additional security work "involved long hours and nightshifts and was performed in addition to their normal week's work," according to Immigration NZ.
East Security, which is under liquidation, has been fined $15,600 for the breaches. Edwards was also sentenced to 90 hours of community work.
