Trade warned of SIA licensing shortfall
Concern is mounting that an impending increase in the number and types of venues that will be forced to employ door supervisors could put a severe strain on already-limited resources.
From 12 September, legislation will be widened to include a variety of premises including those that have an occasional licence or those with an events licence. At present, only pubs and clubs are required by law to have door supervisors that have been accredited by the Security Industry Authority.
As recently as the end of July, the SIA admitted that only around 80% of 46,000 doorstaff in England and Wales had applied for a three-year licence costing £450, leaving a shortfall of more than 9,000 supervisors. Since 11 April, anyone who works as a door supervisor has to be registered with the SIA.
SIA spokesman Robert Buxton said he thought the present complement of 37,000 registered staff could cope with the extra workload.
He said: 'Most door supervisors already have another job working as security guards or stewards at events like concerts.
Michael Kheng, of the licensing consultant Kurnia Intertrade based in Lincolnshire, said he had been trying to finalise 'at least three applications with the SIA since January.
Kheng claimed he has had difficulties in getting SIA people to answer their phone and that the authority had failed to let him act as an agent for the applicants.
He added: 'The more work they (SIA) get, the more problems they will get. It happened when they tried to register wheel-clampers and the same will happen with extending the number of premises requiring door supervisors.
