Pub and club goers will be in safer hands from today with the launch of a new national licensing scheme for door staff. New national standards of training and personal licensing will call time on the minority of ‘bouncers’ whose criminal and violent behaviour has given door supervision a bad name.
The new national licence issued by the regulating body, the Security Industry Authority (SIA), will begin to rid the industry of the old old-style ‘bouncer’ image immortalised by Hale and Pace in their characters the ‘Two Rons’.
Under the new SIA 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 the first nationally recognised qualification. Training will cover key areas of door supervision such as conflict management, emergency procedures and drug awareness.
During the past 20 years, 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.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight will be the first region to be regulated under the new SIA licensing scheme. From 4 June, it will be a criminal offence to work as a door supervisor in Hampshire and Isle of Wight without an SIA licence. The SIA door supervisor licence will then be introduced region by region. From April 2005, it will be illegal to work as a door supervisor anywhere in England and Wales without an SIA licence.
SIA Chairman Peter Hermitage said:
“It’s important people feel safe when they go out to bars, pubs and clubs. The new national licence will ensure we have qualified, highly trained door staff in pubs, bars and clubs across the country.
“Unfortunately, the industry as a whole has suffered because of a small minority who give it a bad name. The new licence will protect the public from untrained and unsuitable operators and will improve the industry’s image
This will be a benefit to the whole community not just door supervisors.”
Hazel Blears, Home Office Minister for crime reduction, policing and community safety.
said:
“This is an exciting time for the Security Industry Authority as the first stage of national licensing of door supervisors starts.
“This new era of trained professional door supervisors is just the start of the process that will lead to the transformation of the private security industry.
“National training standards and personal licensing will allow the industry to continue to play its vital part in tackling crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour and promoting community safety.”
Door supervisors can request an SIA licence application pack:
By telephone: 08702 430 100