Doorstaff left to wait for SIA

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has admitted having 'teething problems' with a new system designed to speed up its licence application process.

Since April 2005 it has been illegal for doorstaff to work in England without an SIA licence.

But a licensee has told The Publican her son is still waiting for a licence renewal despite paying £245 and sending forms to the SIA back in October.

Shirley Childs, licensee of the Oddfellows Arms, Chester, said: "My son Jonathan has been registered with the SIA for three years and has done everything asked of him to get his renewal.

"We have still not received his badge so he can not work because he will get in trouble."

She added for her other doorman has struggled to cope with the workload at the venue over the last few months.

The situation mirrors the delay that occured when the SIA system was originally introduced in England in 2004.

She said: "It is not on when the likes of the SIA shout the odds about door staff being badged but also puts my other doormen at risk because he has to do the job with no support."

An SIA spokeswoman blamed the hold up on postal strikes and a new licensing system.

She said: "Due to a combination of royal mail strikes In Liverpool (where the new service centre is based) and some teething problems with our new system, processing times for non-complex applications temporarily increased.

"Unfortunately, a pocket of applications experienced further delays due to a migration issue, and Mr Childs appears to have been caught up in these delays.

"We will be writing to Mr Childs this week and as a matter of urgency will make a decision regarding his application."