The South East region is the latest to join the national licensing scheme for door staff.
The new licence, issued by the regulating body the Security Industry Authority (SIA), will begin to rid the industry of the small pockets of old old-style ‘bouncers’ whose criminal and violent behaviour has given door supervision a bad name, the SIA says.
Under the new licence, all door supervisors will be required to undergo an identity and criminal background check and reach set levels of training and professional standards in a nationally recognised qualification. Training will cover key areas of door supervision such as conflict management, emergency procedures and drug awareness.
From February 28, 2005, it will be a criminal offence to work as a door supervisor in the South East (excluding Greater London) without an SIA licence. The SIA door supervisor licence is being introduced region by region. Hampshire and Isle of Wight was the first region to be regulated under the new SIA licensing scheme, and from April 2005 it will be illegal to work as a door supervisor anywhere in England or Wales without an SIA licence. During the past 20 years, the SIA adds, the number of door supervisors has grown dramatically with the boom in the night-time economy. It’s estimated that there are currently 95,000 door supervisors employed in pubs, clubs and bars in England and Wales.
What they say
SIA Chairman Peter Hermitage said: "With a thriving pub, club and bar scene, the South East accounts for a high proportion of Britain’s door staff. It’s vital public feel secure when they enjoy a night out without worrying about problems arising inside or outside a venue. Now, with this new national door supervisor licence, patrons of pubs, bars and clubs across the whole country can enjoy a night out safe in the knowledge that there are qualified, highly trained staff on the doors. Unfortunately, the industry which does an essential and professional job has suffered because of a small minority who have given it a bad name. This new licence will protect the public from untrained and unsuitable operators, as well as benefiting the industry as a whole and the venues that they service."
