Door staff granted SIA licence extension period

The Security Industry AUTHORITY (SIA) has been forced to grant an extension on agreed regulation timescales for door supervisors working in London because so many of them have failed to apply for a licence. As of Monday 11 April, it became an offence for all door supervisors and their managers working in London (and throughout the rest of England and Wales) to operate without an SIA ‘badge of approval’ but, in spite of a widespread publicity campaign, figures exclusively revealed to SMT by the Authority on 1 April suggested that only 1,300 applications from London's estimated 6,100 door staff had been received.

SIA deputy chief executive Andy Drane is insistent that neither the Authority nor the Metropolitan Police want to see pubs and clubs in the Capital closed down, but at the same time both parties are fully committed to ensuring that only trained, qualified and professional door supervisors are working around the Capital.

“We have reluctantly agreed to the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police exercising a period of discretion in London until 6 June,” Drane told SMT. “A fair and proportionate approach will be taken by the police to those door supervisors who have made every effort to comply with the law, and have applied for their SIA licence. Those who have made no effort to confront regulation could well be facing prosecution. Venues may be closed. Owners have been warned.”

According to Commander Chris Allison of the Metropolitan Police, those door staff who have completed the necessary training, have applied to the SIA for a licence (and can prove they have done so) and are in possession of a local authority badge granted for the area in which they are working will – in the main – not be facing prosecution. “After 6 June, though,” said Allison, “we will be taking whatever action is necessary to ensure that only professional, licensed staff are on the doors of the Capital’s nightspots.”

As things stand, the maximum penalty at Magistrates’ Courts for anyone found guilty of working as a door supervisor without holding an SIA licence is a £5,000 fine and/or six months’ imprisonment.

Operation Badge – a multi-agency initiative involving the SIA, Avon & Somerset Constabulary, HM Immigration Service and local authority officials – recently targeted licensed premises in the Bristol area during the first weekend of April. 80 venues were visited, and 250 door supervisors checked. 75 warning letters were issued, two door staff were removed from duty and accepted a police caution, an illegal immigrant was arrested and 12 other immigration offences are now being investigated.