Over 400 doorstaff

face being banned

More than 400 doorstaff face being banned from working at clubs and bars for two years after being prosecuted for failing to obtain a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.

Police checks on doorstaff are becoming increasingly common across England and Wales and those found guilty will find themselves with a criminal record and unable to continue in their role at licensed premises. 'The usual fine is a couple of hundred pounds rather than a custodial sentence but not being able to work will hit offenders the hardest, said SIA spokesman Robert Buxton.

The SIA estimated that 81% of the 46,000 doorstaff in England and Wales have applied for the three-year £450 licence, which has been mandatory since 11 April. Those found working without a licence face a maximum fine of £5,000 or six months in jail.

The latest convictions came in Cardiff last week where three doorstaff pleaded guilty to working without a licence.

Buxton warned that those who have a licence but fail to display them face similar prosecutions. 'Displaying a licence is an important part of public reassurance and failure to display one means the SIA can withdraw the licence and police can prosecute in much the same way as those who are unlicensed, he said. 'The number of prosecutions shows the police are taking the matter very seriously.

The south-east is currently the worst area for unlicensed doorstaff with just over 60% having applied for a licence.

There are 30 prosecutions currently under way in the area with the like-lihood of more to follow after police issued more than 800 warning letters to doorstaff.