BEDA hits out at SIAover seminar no-show

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by John Harrington The Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (BEDA) has hit out at the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for not showing up at a...

by John Harrington

The Bar Entertainment & Dance Association (BEDA) has hit out at the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for not showing up at a BEDA seminar that included discussions on the SIA doorstaff licensing system.

The SIA said that it was not allowed to attend BEDA's regional seminar in Newcastle last Tuesday, which drew 60 operators, because the organisation was banned from discussing political matters in the period prior to the General Election, which is commonly known as "Purda".

But BEDA chief executive Jon Collins said: "I take issue with [the SIA not attending] because the SIA is a very hot issue for operators at the moment. A lot of them have got many problems or points of concern, or they want clarification on how the process is working.

"Given that we wouldn't ask them to comment on future policy, but would engage with operators about how the licensing system is working to date, I thought that at the very least it was a bit of a stretch to say they were prohibited from attending."

Collins added that the good turnout at the seminar was partly because operators were eager for clarification on issues connected to the SIA licensing system. "It's not often that you get 60 operators in one room together," he said.

SIA spokesman Robert Buxton said Government guidelines prohibited them from attending events such as the BEDA seminar.

"We are not allowed to do anything that's pro-active ­ attend conferences or give speeches.

"There were a couple of conferences recently that we wanted to attend and have a voice but we can't. The Licensing Act is Government legislation and we have to step back from anything at all political. Jon Collins is fully aware of why we can't attend; the guidelines are there for a reason and we have to stick by them."

l In Norfolk, one in 10 staff checked during a recent weekend operation did not have the necessary SIA licence.

"Norfolk Police worked with the SIA on the operation involving some 30 premises," said Inspector Gavin Tempest. "Our spot checks in places like Norwich, King's Lynn and Great Yarmouth showed most operators working within the law and meeting public safety standards."

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