The owners of a Gloucestershire modelling agency have been banned from running an employment business for at least 10 years following a successful tribunal action by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR).
Dean Coles was this week banned from running or being concerned with the running of an employment agency or business during a hearing at the Employment Tribunal in Bristol.
His wife Debbie Coles was banned from running, or allowing anyone to run, an employment agency from her home address.
The application was made by BERR’s Employment Agency Standards (EAS) inspectorate after Mr Coles was released from prison on parole, having served part of an 8-year sentence following a conviction of rape, attempted rape and indecent assault at Bristol Crown Court in June 2003. The victims were female clients who attended the modelling agency run by Mr and Mrs Coles, Cotswold Models.
The Employment Tribunal found that Mr Coles was “unsuitable” to be involved in the running of an agency due to the serious nature of the crimes he committed against his clients.
Employment Relations Minister Pat McFadden said:
“This action proves we are committed to protecting the rights and well-being of agency workers, who are often among the most vulnerable of employees.
“Our Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate investigates all relevant complaints it receives, undertaking spot inspections on the basis of perceived risks, and targeting the minority of rogue agencies who abuse or mistreat their clients.”
Secretary of State John Hutton last month announced a doubling of the number of inspectors to make enforcement of the law even more effective. New regulations will also ban the taking of fees at casting sessions and introduce a new 7-day cooling off period, in order to prevent aspiring models from being ripped off by casting agents.
These are the fourth and fifth successful EAS prohibition order this year, and there have also been two successful prosecutions, all of which were aimed at ensuring that dangerous and disreputable people are prevented from preying on workers.
Increasing the number of EAS inspectors is one of several Government initiatives which protect the rights of vulnerable workers, including agency workers. These include the establishment of a Vulnerable Workers Enforcement Forum, which brings together government, workers and employees to develop better strategies to prevent exploitation and abuse. The Government has also established two Vulnerable Workers pilot programmes in London and Birmingham to develop local partnerships and help workers secure their employment rights.
EAS offences are currently summary offences and therefore prosecutions take place in magistrates’ courts. BERR has consulted on proposals to make offences under employment agency legislation triable in both the Crown court as well as magistrates courts, which would increase the potential penalties from a maximum fine of £5,000 to an unlimited fine.
News Release from the Department of Business
