8 May 2008: On Friday 2 May, investigators from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) were joined by officers from Northumbria Police and South Tyneside Council for Operation QWERTY - to target non-compliant door staff working at licensed premises in South Shields.
During the intelligence-led operation:
- 11 licensed premises were visited
- 35 door supervisors were checked, most held valid SIA Door Supervisor licences.
- A small number of door staff were working with expired licences*
*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.
Lucia Howland, an SIA Head of Investigation said:
"Firstly, I’d like to thank our partners at Northumbria Police and South Tyneside Council for working with us. We all want to see trained, qualified and SIA licensed door staff working in positions of trust. We were pleased to find door staff complying with the law and it is reassuring for us, and the public, that door supervisors and licensees in South Shields have recognised the importance and value of an SIA licence."
Ian Johnson, Licensing Co-ordinator for South Tyneside Area Command, said:
"The aim of Operation QWERTY was to make sure that door staff in South Shields town centre are working in a professional manner. It was extremely encouraging that a high number of the 35 door staff checked across 11 premises were displaying their SIA badges.
Only a small number were working with an expired licence. It is important that their role is properly regulated and that these regulations are appropriately enforced. We regularly carry out these multi-agency checks and will continue to do so to ensure that South Tyneside remains a safe place to live, work and visit."
Councillor Michael Clare, Lead Member for Environment, Housing and Transport at South Tyneside Council, said:
Officers in the Council’s Licensing Section work closely with Northumbria Police, Security Industry Authority and licensees to ensure that all door supervisors working within South Tyneside are fully compliant.
We are delighted that no serious offences were highlighted as a result of recent checks. This shows that the partnership is working effectively. As a Council, we are committed to supporting the night time economy and continue to work with our partners to ensure people stay safe but still have a great time when visiting the Borough."
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.