SIA launches in North West
The North West became the latest region to cope with the launch of the Security Industry Authority Licence on Monday. Door supervisors working in cities including Manchester and Liverpool will be required by law to hold the license by November 15.
Although the SIA scheme has faced problems in the regions where it has previously been launched, it is hoped that it will eventually clean up the security industry in the UK.
Training covers key areas of door supervision such as conflict management and drug awareness and the SIA believes qualified door staff will add to customer safety.
Peter Hermitage, SIA chairman, said: "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 improve the industry's image."
The SIA has so far launched the licence in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, the South West, Wales and the Midlands.
By April 2005 it will be illegal to work as a door supervisor anywhere in the UK without the licence. The scheme's deadlines have struggled to make much impact so far though, with most of the regions where the licence has already been launched being offered a grace period due to missed deadlines.
In Birmingham the SIA came under fire because of the highly successful scheme already in place while in Hampshire only 200 door staff had their licences to show police on the first day it became law.
