Edinburgh Council cracks down on doorstaff with convictions

Edinburgh council is cracking down on doorstaff with convictions for violence and other offences.

New guidelines will ban repeat offenders from becoming bouncers unless they can stay on the right side of the law for at least three years, after the city's Chief Constable warned licensing authorities the regime was too lax.

Trade leaders think that if the scheme is successful, it could be introduced in the rest of the UK.

A number of violent offenders have registered as doorstaff since Edinburgh's licensing scheme was set up five years ago.

Licensing Board convenor Dougie Kerr said:"Anyone with a history of disrespect for the law should not be allowed to become a door steward. This is an issue of protecting public safety."

Russell Equi, director of operations at FPC security, which provides door staff for pubs and clubs across the city, said: "Anyone with repeat convictions for violent offences should not be on the door of a pub or club, it's as simple as that. We would certainly have no problem with the authorities tightening up these guidelines to make sure that the right kind of people come into the profession.

"My only reservation would be that if the guidelines become too strict, we could drive decent people away from the job. I know of many good people, maybe students or overseas workers, who want to do the job but are discouraged because they have to wait six weeks to become fully registered."