Licence fee 'may deter new door staff'

Trade bodies and door supervisors fear plans for a 29% hike in door staff licences could deter people from starting the job.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has been urged to reconsider plans to increase licence application fees from £190 to £245 from 6 April.

Renewal fees for the licences, which last three years, will also rise from £190 to £245 under the plan, included in a new Home Office report.

I strongly urge the SIA to reconsider their decision and look at increasing the cost in line with inflation, if at all.​ British Institute of Innkeeping chief executive John McNamara

The Home Office said the increase is needed for the SIA to be self-funding, as income from licensing has been "less than expected".

British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) chief executive John McNamara said: "This decision will have a huge impact on individual door supervisors and the whole industry. New entrants to door supervision will be faced with a huge licence fee in addition to training costs. ​

"The industry has been working hard to increase the professionalism of this sector and I am concerned that this move will put off potential responsible people from entering door supervision."

He added: "I strongly urge the SIA to reconsider their decision and look at increasing the cost in line with inflation, if at all."​

Bar Entertainment & Dance Association executive director Paul Smith said: "I can't see why the fee has to be upped by 29%. I'm sure those costs could have been factored in by Government."​

A spokesman for the Working The Doors lobby group, which represents door staff, said: "With these new price increases, how many more valued door supervisors will we lose because they simply cannot afford or will not pay an increase of 29%?​

"The Working the Doors lobby group demands that the Home Secretary and SIA chief executive reconsider this issue immediately."

Under the plan, which will now be considered by ministers, applications received before 6 April will be processed at the current fee.

The SIA intends to review the fee annually.