Licensing for door staff goes 'live'

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has begun regulating the private security sector by implementing its all-new national licensing scheme for door supervisors. The new standards will finally call 'time' on the minority of 'bouncers' whose criminal and sometimes violent behaviour has given the doors sector a bad name among the public at large.

Under the SIA's scheme, all door supervisors will now be required to undergo an identity and criminal records background check, at the same time attaining specific levels of training and professional standards in what is the sector's first nationally recognised qualification. Training will cover the key areas of door supervision, including conflict management, emergency procedures and drug awareness.

During the past two decades, the number of door supervisors working across England and Wales has grown dramatically, mirroring the boom in the night-time leisure economy. It's estimated that 95,000 door staff are now in operation in pubs, clubs and bars.

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are the first geographical areas to be regulated under the SIA's licensing strand. From 4 June, it will be a criminal offence to work as a door supervisor in these areas without an SIA licence, thus pub and club goers will now be in safer hands. The licence will then be rolled out on a region-by-region basis. From April next year, it will be illegal to work as a door supervisor anywhere in England and Wales without an SIA licence.

Speaking about the scheme, SIA chairman Peter Hermitage told SMT: "It's important that people feel safe when they go out to bars and clubs. The new licence will ensure that, from now on, we have qualified and highly trained individuals working in these situations. That's most certainly going to be a huge benefit to the whole community."

Reinforcing those comments, Hazel Blears – Home Office minister for crime reduction, policing and community safety – added: "This is a hugely exciting time for the Security Industry Authority as the first stage of national licensing for door staff begins. It's just the beginning of a long process that will transform the private security industry. National training standards and personal licensing will allow the industry to continue to play its vital part in tackling crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour while at the same time promoting community safety."

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has also provided some clarification regarding its position on the regulation and licensing of event stewards.

According to the SIA, any event steward undertaking licensable activities (such as vetting the suitability of persons entering licensed premises and dealing with outbreaks of disorder) will require an SIA licence if they're working at a premises or in an area/stadium/venue that's licensed under the 1964 Licensing Act.

At a later (as yet unspecified) date, the SIA will duly extend licensing to those event stewards working at premises with other types of licence (such as occasional licenses) within the meaning of the Licensing Act 1964, licences under the Private Places of Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and the London Government Act of 1963.