SBPA slams SIA delays
The Scottish Beer and Pub Association (SBPA) has blasted the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for delays in processing doorstaff applications.
The situation is a repeat of the fiasco experienced in England, which prompted the SIA to recently issue two belated apologies for its poor performance.
The need for doorstaff to be SIA registered became law in November north of the border, however many are still waiting for their licences - which is causing operators a major headache.
The SBPA expressed its concerns in a letter to SIA chief executive Michael Wilson.
The SIA boss said the primary reason for delays was the failure of operators to submit applications before the November deadline.
"Those entering the industry since November 2007 - and particularly between November last year and January this year - may well have been disadvantaged by the current processing issues, for which I reiterate my apologies," said Wilson.
SBPA chief executive Patrick Browne (pictured) said: "Mr Wilson has now issued three apologies to the SBPA in as many months for the poor performance of the SIA not just in Scotland but across the UK as a whole.
"Pub operators and SIA applicants in Scotland don't need apologies, they need action to resolve the problems which seem to have plagued the SIA since its establishment."
