'Disobedient' PC banned for life over online raffle business

Plus: Andrew Brown's What's On guide and improvement demanded for spinal unit

Jun 01, 2025

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Hello and welcome to the 40th edition of The Southport Lead.

After a mixed half-term, the good weather has returned in time for a packed Food and Drink Festival and it’s been fantastic to see so many people’s enjoying a trip to the town.

Today’s newsletter focuses on the actions of a Merseyside police officer who decided to ignore orders against running a online raffle business and now finds himself banned from the profession.

We also have news of a disappointing inspection at a service used to help spinal patients in the town and Andrew Brown’s What’s On guide to the week ahead.

PC banned for setting up online raffle business in ‘direct disobedience’ of orders

By Jamie Lopez

A former Merseyside Police constable has been banned from the profession after flouting orders to stop running a raffle business.

Ben McGuinness was working for the force alongside running Glo Up - a series of business interests which covered events, travel and beauty. While police officers can have outside business interests, they must be declared to and approved by their force and only operated with its express permission.

The original business interests were approved by the force but in August, McGuinness was refused permission to change Glo Up Travel to Glo Up Competitions, a business which would sell online raffle tickets for a range of prizes.

The force concluded that this type of business, which is defined by the Gambling

Commission was a licensable activity, breached its policy because of the “risk of the business interest discrediting the police service or undermining public confidence”.

Despite being refused permission, it continued to operate and police said that social media posts in October made it clear McGuiness was running the business. This was later described by Chief Constable Serena Kennedy as “direct disobedience” and led to misconduct proceedings being taken against him.

McGuiness left his role with the police before his misconduct hearing could take place and his Glo Up Competitions business continued to operate in the following months. Prizes listed on the site in that time period cash, gift cards, a Santa visit and a four-hour house clean.

While his company Glo Up Ltd is subject of a request to be dissolved from Companies House and the competitions business has offered no draws since April, the events aspect of the business remains in operation.

Although McGuiness was no longer an officer, a misconduct panel convened to decide to complete the investigation and concluded that his actions amounted to gross misconduct and that he would have been sacked. As a result, McGuiness was added to the list of barred police officers and cannot work in the profession again.

Ch Con Kennedy concluded: “The communities of Merseyside should quite rightly be able to have trust and confidence that the officers and staff working for Merseyside Police not only uphold the law but also abide by the law and the policy and procedures.

“The failure of the former officer to do this will impact on the trust and confidence of our communities and I am sure that they will be shocked to learn that a former officer thought that it was acceptable to ignore the order given to him.”

She added: “Policing is a disciplined organisation, and our communities expect us to uphold the law and abide by the policy and procedures set out both locally and nationally. I consider the actions of the former officer to be serious and I expect that the community would as well.”

Spinal Unit told to improve after safety failing found during inspection

By Elliot Jessett

A spinal unit in Birkdale has been told it ‘requires improvement’ in safety and leadership after a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report.

Spinal Unit Action Group (SUAG) - based on Weld Road – provides care, support and accommodation to people with disabilities and patients/ex-patients at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre.

Eleven people were living in SUAG when CQC inspectors carried out a site visit on February 28, with the remainder of the assessment being conducted offsite.

The CQC inspectors completed their assessment on March 20 and it confirmed the inspection was prompted due to concerns it had received about people’s safety. A decision was then approved to inspect and examine the risks flagged to its reporting system.

The findings of the latest inspection were published on May 20 and included a total of 15 quality statements from the safe and well-led key questions. Inspectors noted that the registered manager at the centre was on planned leave during their visit and were assisted by the deputy manager – additional information was provided by the registered manager on their return.

SUAG were rated ‘good’ for Effective, Caring and Responsive assessment units, but rated as ‘requires improvement’ for safety and leadership. The inspectors’ report noted: “We found a breach in regulation in relation to governance.

“The provider had not established consistent and effective governance systems and processes. There was a lack of regular checks and audits to assess, monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service.

“Safety checks of the environment and equipment had not always been carried out at the required intervals and some checks and audits did not always fully review areas of potential risk.

“The providers formal process for staff supervisions and appraisals was not followed to enable staff to discuss and identify any training needs, their performance and areas for development.

“However, staff told us they felt well supported on a day-to-day basis. The provider had not developed a service improvement plan (SIP) to address any areas for improvement including those identified by other agencies.

“The overall rating is requires improvement. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.”

However, SUAG also received praise for numerous aspects of it’s care including patient care, it’s positive and engaging environment and its medical support. The report added: “People were very positive about their experiences of the care they received at the home. People told us they felt safe and were treated well, they also told us they were confident about raising any concerns about their safety.

“Their comments included, “Couldn’t ask for a better place and better staff, they look after me so well, not a bit worried about my safety if I was, I’d tell one of the staff” and “Very safe indeed, being unsafe has never crossed my mind. I’d certainly tell someone if I had any worries at all.”

The report also stated: “People told us they knew what medicines they were prescribed, and staff provided them with the right support to make sure they received them on time. One person said, “I always get my tablets bang on time” and another person said, “They [staff] prepare my medication and hand them to me as I can take them myself, they sign the record after I’ve taken them.”

Responding to the findings of the CQC, a spokesperson for Spinal Unit Action Group said: “We acknowledge the recent CQC inspection report and are fully committed to addressing the areas in our administration identified as requiring improvement.

“We have formulated an action plan and have made significant inroads in its implementation. We are pleased that the report stated that our residents were happy, felt safe, were well cared for, listened to and valued and supported as individuals, as do our staff. We look forward to regaining our previously ‘Good’ rating.”

What’s On This Week

By Andrew Brown

It’s the final weekend of the May Half Term Holidays - but don’t worry there’s plenty for people to enjoy in Southport!

Get ready to go out with a bang before heading back to school, including at the Southport Food and Drink Festival, with fun events to enjoy next week too.

Here’s what you can enjoy in Southport from Sunday, 1st June 2025 through to Sunday, 8th June 2025:

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