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Two divers cautioned for fraud by UK Police
Two divers and one company director sanctioned by HSE UK for exaggerating credentials, cautioned for fraud by UK Police.
In December 2022 HSE received information that two divers may have obtained their closed bell qualifications without having the necessary prior diving experience, prompting concern this lack of experience could result in a diving incident offshore as both divers had worked for contractors in the North Sea.
An investigation by HSE, working closely with the Fraud Investigation Team of Hampshire Police resulted in all three individuals admitting that they had made false entries into logbooks, which are legal documents, for the divers to gain entry into closed bell training courses.
All three individuals received police cautions for fraud by false representation under the Fraud Act 2006, and the two divers have had their diving qualifications withdrawn, one of them being an ADAS certification.
HSE diving inspector Phil Crombie said: “You need diving experience to become a qualified closed bell diver and making it up could put your life and other divers at risk … Closed bell courses cost over fifteen thousand pounds for a diver – and these divers have ended up losing that without gaining a qualification. It’s just fortunate that they weren’t involved in any accident or incident.”
Amanda Sordes, ADAS Executive Director, said “ADAS conditions of certifications clearly state that any certificate obtained on the basis of false or misleading information may be suspended or cancelled. The ADAS Board of Directors takes fraud matters very seriously and thanks the HSE and the Hampshire Police for their work in bringing this issue to light”.
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