2 May 2008: On Friday 18 April, investigators from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) were joined by officers from Lincolnshire Police to carry out checks on door supervisors working at licensed premises in Grantham, Spalding and Stamford.

During the intelligence led operation:

• 22 licensed premises were visited
• 44 door supervisors were checked
• 33 held valid SIA licences
• 11 unlicensed operatives were identified
• 5 individuals were reported for possible prosecution under Section 3 of the Private Security Act 2001 (working without a licence)*
• 6 individuals were warned for Section 3 offences*
• 3 individuals were warned for offences under Section 9 (non display of licence)*

*The SIA always takes a fair and proportionate approach to enforcement action and will take into account the progress an individual has made towards getting or renewing a licence e.g. training completed, licence application submitted. But the SIA expects security companies and individuals to comply with the law.

Jacqueline Parker, an SIA Head of Investigation said:

"We would like to thank our partners at Lincolnshire Police for working with us as part of this ongoing operational activity within Lincolnshire area. Whilst the majority were compliant, it was disappointing to find some individuals flouting the law and making no attempt to comply at all.

Door supervisors, working without an SIA licence, and those deploying them, are committing an offence. To maintain public safety, it is vital that door staff are trained, qualified and SIA licensed. We and our police partners will continue to deliver that message."

Chief Inspector for Community Safety in Lincolnshire Police’s South Division, said:

"This was a joint initiative between Lincolnshire Police and the SIA as part of our commitment to make the night time economy of south Lincolnshire a safer and more enjoyable place to be.

By checking that door staff are SIA licensed we are ensuring that they are trained to approved standards which means they are better qualified to deal with the public in an appropriate way. Door staff play an important role in ensuring the safety and security of the public in our pubs and clubs, and visits by the police and SIA help support the valuable work that properly trained and licensed door staff carry out".

Notes to Editors:

• It is an offence to work as a door supervisor (in house and contract) in Great Britain without an SIA licence. A Door Supervisor licence is required if manned guarding activities are undertaken in relation to licensed premises
• Over 50% of the licensable population work for an SIA Approved Contractor. This means, security companies can be given authorisation to deploy a certain percentage of their security staff while their licence applications are being processed. This is in the form of an SIA Licence Dispensation Notice (LDN).
• The maximum penalty for committing an offence such as working without a licence or supplying unlicensed staff is six months' imprisonment and/or fine up to £5,000 (or trial on indictment to crown court, whereby an unlimited fine and/or five years' imprisonment could be imposed).
• SIA licences can be checked through the Register of Licence Holders, available 24-hours on the SIA website.