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Merseyside Police and partners are issuing a final warning to door supervisors and their managers in the area to get SIA-licensed by July this year, or face legal action.
The Private Security Industry Act became law in November in the region, and, following a locally defined ‘grace period’, door supervisors and door supervisor managers should be regulated and licensed in order to do their job. Working with the Security Industry Agency, and local authorities in the region, Merseyside Police reports it is ready to enforce the terms of the act,
The legislation means that all of those who work on the doors of bars or venues, and their managers have to go through two days of training, as well as a criminal records check before a license is awarded, and from July 1, any door staff working without a licence can be prosecuted.
What they say
Supt Dave Labdon said: "We have been enforcing this legislation since its introduction within the Security Industries Act [sic] in November 2004. We appreciate the complexities of introducing a new system of registration for door staff, so we have enforced it using discretion. After consultation with the partner agencies, we are now agreed that that the time is right to end this period of discretion. With effect from July 1, if any door staff are not wearing the blue SIA badge, they should not be working on the doors of licensed premises."
"The registration of door staff will ensure that all staff providing security at licensed premises throughout the county will be approachable and accountable. With the increased importance of our night-time economy in the run up Liverpool being European Capital of Culture 2008, it is crucial that the staff on the front line of that industry help to provide a safe environment in which visitors and residents can enjoy all that Merseyside has to offer."
