Licensee will supply doorstaff

The licensee of a Surrey nightclub has agreed to become a "gold-plated" doorstaff provider within nine months.

In what's believed to be a first, Michel Harper of Harpers in Guildford is to attain Approved Contractor Status (ACS), following an order from magistrates. Usually only security firms obtain ACS, which requires suppliers to go beyond minimum standards in areas such as staff training.

It came at an appeal over conditions attached to the club last year, which included ensuring doorstaff are from ACS-accredited suppliers.

Philip Kolvin QC, representing Guildford Council, said the premises licence holder agreed to gain ACS because only one security firm in Guildford has the status.

"He was loathe to use them as the supplier also supplied his competitor."

Police asked for a licence review last year. A spokesman for the force said it followed "10 incidents relating to the actions of doorstaff against members of the public over a two-month period in 2008". "A number of charges were brought against doorstaff and they were put through the courts."

A judicial review to challenge the conditions failed in the High Court in July and an application has been made to the Court of Appeal.