More than 400 door supervisors were inspected during a London borough-wide operation on Friday, June 29, the Security Industry Authority report. The Metropolitan Police led the operation, supported by SIA investigators, local police units, local authorities and trading standards and other partners. The operation was part of the Met’s Operation Condor, which saw officers deployed across London boroughs to crack down on licensing issues such as unlicensed door staff working at pubs and clubs.
The SIA supported inspections that took place at 109 venues in the following boroughs: Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Havering, Lambeth, Southwark, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth and Westminster. The SIA also supported Surrey Police to carry out visits in Guilford.
In total some 420 door supervisors were checked. Of those, 408 individuals were working legally by holding a valid SIA licence. Some 12 door staff were found to be working illegally in the following boroughs: Southwark (five operatives), Lambeth (three operatives), Hackney (one operative), Hammersmith and Fulham (one operative), Wandsworth (one operative) and Westminster (one operative). Pending further investigation, prosecutions will follow, the SIA adds. Investigators issued warnings to more than 40 people across all areas for breaking licence conditions, which included failing to display the SIA licence while on duty, failing to notify the SIA of a change of address and failing to notify the SIA of criminality.
SIA Head of Investigation Jacquie Parker said: “This is the second phase of Operation Condor, a programme of operations involving the police, trading standards and other partners targeting licensing issues in London.
“We found a number of offences, which included door staff working with revoked licences, working with licences that had expired, those who were unlicensed and those working with licences for the wrong sector. We are carrying out enquiries regarding all the offences found and action will be taken against those that were found to be offending.”
