SIA fails to meet own 80% target for licences
Wilson: "progress not as rapid as I'd hoped"
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) says it is still failing to hit its own targets for processing doorstaff licences.
SIA boss Mike Wilson said since he apologised for delays on 3 March, "progress has been made, but it has not been as rapid as I had hoped".
In a letter to trade groups and operators, Wilson said the SIA had not reached its target of completing 80% of licence decisions within six weeks, although recent applications are processed within six to eight weeks.
Wilson also said it was taking "a few weeks rather than a few days" to return documents to applicants.
And the time people are kept on hold at the call centre "has been an unacceptable 20 minutes, although this is already reducing".
Noctis executive director Paul Smith said: "Six to
eight weeks is a long time to process an application, but we've heard from a number of our members that 12 weeks — and counting — is pretty commonplace.
"We've even heard of one instance where a door supervisor has been waiting since before Christmas for a new badge. This is totally unacceptable."
Smith suggested the SIA could let doorstaff work if they have proof their application had been sent off.
But an SIA spokesman said: "We can't give people carte blanche to work illegally [without a valid doorstaff licence]."
Security firms face closure
Two Liverpool-based doorstaff providers face being wound up after allegations of misconduct.
The Government has asked the High Court to dissolve CTN Security Services of Longmoor Lane, Aintree, and CTN Retail Security Services of Penny Lane, Mossley Hill. The official receiver has been appointed provisional liquidator of both firms. The Insolvency Service, which investigated the companies, said petitions will be heard at the High Court on
28 May.
Meanwhile, police arrested three unlicensed door supervisors during a visit to licensed premises in Stockport and Reddish, Cheshire. A further 13 supervisors were warned for not displaying SIA licences.
