93% of Door Staff Licensed

29 May 2008: Investigators from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and officers from Sussex Police and UK Border Agency targeted illegally working door supervisors across East & West Sussex on Friday 23 May in a pre-Bank Holiday crackdown.

146 licensed premises were visited across the counties and 336 door staff were checked. 314 held valid SIA licences but 22 individuals were found working illegally, including a doorman working illegally with a fake SIA licence and two doormen were arrested for immigration offences.

Jennifer Pattinson, an SIA Head of Investigation said:

"We all share the same concern for maintaining public safety and SIA licensing of door staff contributes to that. Together, we can all tackle illegal activity in the private security industry. Door supervisors working illegally and those deploying them could face prosecution."

For more information please refer to Sussex Police: www.sussex.police.uk.

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.
• 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.
• 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. However, the SIA expects security companies and individuals to comply with the law. Further information can be found on the Enforcement pages of the SIA website.