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Inaction by door supervisors in the South East and London may force pubs and clubs to close if licensees cannot employ enough licensed door staff. Insufficient numbers of the South East’s door staff have applied for their new door supervisor licence.

From 28 February in the South East region and from 11 April in Greater London it will be a legal requirement for all door staff to hold a new Security Industry Authority (SIA) door supervisor licence. All local authority registration schemes will cease.

Andy Drane, Deputy Chief Executive of the SIA, said:

“There has been widespread publicity of the new licensing scheme, and door staff in the South East have been able to apply for their new licences since 25 October 2004. Inaction by individual door staff and venue operators can only be through deliberate means or neglect. Door staff need to act now to ensure they are licensed to work.

“The South East and London benefit from a vibrant night-time economy and the public deserve a high level of service from door staff when they go out to pubs, clubs and bars. An SIA door supervisor licence demonstrates that the holder has undergone identity and criminal record checks and has reached set levels of training and professional standards.

“The SIA, and our partners in the police and local authorities, will ensure that only professional, trained and qualified door staff work at pubs and clubs in the South East. Door staff, managers and premises licence holders remain strictly liable for any failure to comply with the law.”

Chris Allison, Commander in the Metropolitan Police Service and ACPO lead on Licensing said:

‘I hope those who act as door supervisors and the trade who make use of them take heed of this warning. From 11^th April, door supervisors will have to hold an SIA door supervisor licence and the police service will take action against those who break the law, be they the door supervisors or those who employ them. It is vital that those wishing to work in this field apply for their new licences now and I would urge the licensing trade to encourage those they currently employ to get themselves licensed in time.’

Door supervisors and their managers working without an SIA licence risk prosecution and damage their eligibility to be licensed in the future.

Premises licence holders using unlicensed door staff put their premises’ licence at risk. 

Notes to Editors

1.         To attain an SIA door supervisor licence applicants must:

·         Undergo a four-day training course and attain a Level 2 qualification in door supervision (some exemptions to training may be allowed)

·         Undergo an identity check

·         Undergo a criminal record check

2.         Door supervisors working in the South East excluding Greater London require a licence by 28 Feb 05. Door supervisors working in Greater London require a licence by 11 April 2005.

3.         A list of door supervisor training providers is on the SIA website

www.the-sia.org.uk

4.         For licence application packs call 08702 430 100

5.         The maximum penalty at a magistrates court for a person found guilty of working as a door supervisor without an SIA licence is a £5,000 fine and or six months imprisonment. 

6.         www.the-sia.org.uk

Issued by the Security Industry Authority Communications Office

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