Date: 30th November 2007
Source: Wigan Today
Hero doorman saves clubber
A Wigan bouncer has been hailed a hero after saving a teenager's life.
Michael Wood used resuscitation techniques he had been taught on a doorman training course to help the 19-year-old after he discovered she had no pulse and had stopped breathing.
The unnamed patient is understood to have discharged herself from hospital that day in order to celebrate her birthday and was taken ill in The Hub on King Street in the early hours of Saturday.
Paramedics eventually took over and the girl was taken to Wigan Infirmary.
It is believed she is now back at her home in Worsley Hall.
Michael, 25, from Hindley, said: "I was on the door when I was called inside to say a girl had collapsed at a table. Her friends were panicking and at first it was thought she had had too much to drink, so I took her upstairs to the front door to get her some fresh air.
"But then I realised there was something more seriously wrong. I couldn't find a pulse and she had stopped breathing.
"I gave her mouth-to-mouth and CPR and very quickly she sat up with a big gasp. The paramedics turned up then.
"I had no time to think at the time but I was pretty shaken up afterwards. But it was nice to be in a position to help thanks to my first aid training."
Hub shift manager Matthew Hobson said: "Mike is a credit. He stepped up to the mark when needed.
"He did not hesitate and, as far as we are concerned, he was instrumental in getting that girl on the road to recovery."
Michael's boss at MYL Security, Mick Lyons, added: "Door staff sometimes get a bad press so it is good to see one of our staff being a hero. He deserves great credit."
The patient has declined to comment.
Wigan Today
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Date: 23rd November 2007
Source: The Publican
Spot checks catch out Scottish doorstaff
New regulations are being ignored
Fears over new doorstaff regulations in Scotland appeared to be confirmed last week, when a series of spot-checks uncovered almost 40 operatives working without accreditation.
The news comes after a report in last week’s Publican which highlighted concerns that only half of Scottish doorstaff were properly qualified.
New regulations have been introduced which make working in the private security industry without a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence an offence.
Investigators from the SIA visited construction and retail sites across Scotland, and discovered 39 workers operating without an SIA licence, and one example of a worker not displaying an SIA licence.
Further action against the offenders is being considered, and punishments are potentially severe.
For the most serious offences fines are unlimited and can carry a sentence of imprisonment of up to five years.
Jennifer Pattinson, an SIA head of investigation, described the results of the spot-checks as “disappointing”.
“A large number of security operatives were deployed and working without SIA licences.
Of the 11 companies targeted, we identified and warned 10 of them in September that they were in danger of not being adequately prepared for licensing.
"Two months on and most of these companies are acting unlawfully by deploying unlicensed staff.”
The Publican
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Date: 23rd November 2007
Source: Aberystwyth Today
Jailed for spitting at doorman
A PENPARCAU man who swung a punch at a public house doorman and then spat at him, hitting him in the eye, has been jailed for six months by magistrates.
Lee Gallagher, aged 20, of 82 Heol Tynyfron, had been convicted by magistrates of common assault on Benjamin Gray, a doorman at the Academy public house, Upper Great Darkgate Street. Gallagher appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates for sentencing for that offence on Friday.
Crown prosecutor Maggie Hughes told the court that Gallagher had been banned from the Academy public house, Upper Great Darkgate Street, under the BOBB (Behave or Be Banned) scheme when he entered the premises on 12 May. Gallagher, the court heard, had been out cele-brating a friend’s 21st birthday when he went to the Academy. He was told to leave by a doorman, and was escorted from the premises. Gallagher became violent and swung a punch at the doorman. Gallagher was seen to be carrying a canister of some kind, and the doorman restrained him and took him to the ground. Gallagher then deliberately spat at the doorman, catching him in the eye, causing Mr Gray under-standable distress. Gallagher was arrested.
When interviewed by police, and during the subsequent trial, Gallagher denied being drunk, denied spitting, and claimed that the doorman was the aggressor. Steven Welch, for Gallagher, asked magistrates to follow the recommendations in a probation report, by imposing a community penalty. But chairman of the bench, Russell Young, told Gallagher: “This was an assault on a man carry-ing out his duties assisting the public. Spitting is disgusting. “This offence is so serious that it has passed the custody threshold you will go to prison for six months.” Gallagher was also made the subject of an exclu-sion order for two years in respect of the Academy which, if breached, he was warned, could result in a further term of imprisonment.
Aberystwyth Today
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Date: 20th November 2007
Source: This is Scunthorpe
Locked up after attacking doorman
An 18-year-old man, who admitted attacking a pub doorman, has been sent to a young offenders' centre.
Steven Clay (18), of Tomlinson Avenue, Scunthorpe, was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court yesterday after pleading guilty to a breach of his anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) and common assault on October 29.The convictions were in relation to an incident which happened outside Der Schnapps bar on Frodingham Road, Scunthorpe, on July 30 this year, and involved an attack on a member of the door staff, Julian Richards.
Mark Kendall, prosecuting, said: "Mr Richards was on duty when he was approached by the defendant.
"He told the defendant 'I know you're barred, you are not allowed to come in'.
"The defendant then walked down an alley and his progress was monitored on the bar's CCTV."
He was then seen being abusive and picking up various items and throwing them at Mr Richards and his colleague.
"The police then arrived and the defendant was arrested," Mr Kendall added.
Clay was given a three-year Asbo in 2004, which prevented him from:
Engaging in conduct which causes, or is likely to cause, nuisance, annoyance, harassment, alarm or distress to others, or inciting or encouraging others to do so in the North Lincolnshire county council area
Engaging in any behaviour which is likely to be threatening, abusive, insulting to others or inviting or encouraging others to do so in the North Lincolnshire county council area
Committing any further imprisonable offences
Congregating or communicating with drivers of vehicles or vehicles in the area bordered by Ferry Road, Avenue Vivian, Jackson Road and Henderson Avenue.
Gordon Stables, defending Clay, said the defendant had 'a shocking record'.
"He's had a very difficult start in life," Mr Stables said.
"He seems to have allied himself with other peers, and taken drugs and drink in huge quantities.
"There are some positive signs - he does wish to undertake a bricklaying course at college. He does wish to gain employment."
Judge Graham Robinson said of the pre-sentence report on Clay: "This is one of the most depressing documents I have ever seen."
He sentenced Clay to 10 months in a young offenders' institute, and told him he must serve at least half of this sentence.
This is Scunthorpe
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Date: 16th November 2007
Source: The Publican
SIA dismisses Scottish door worker shortage
Authority claims accredited stewards will move up from England
Reports that pubs and clubs in Scotland could face a critical shortage of door workers over the festive season have been dismissed by the Security Industry Authority.
Speculation suggests only half of the stewards needing accreditation are now qualified under the system, which became effective from November 1, bringing Scotland into line with England and Wales.
But a spokeswoman for the SIA told The Publican that 73 per cent of Scottish door workers now had the qualification, adding: “There are up to 100,000 licensed stewards in Britain, meaning there shouldn’t be a shortage.
“There’s nothing to stop a Scottish licensed steward working in London, or one in London working in Scotland.”
Security companies failed to share the SIA’s optimism, insisting
Scotland could be “in serious difficulties” over Christmas and New Year.
Russel Kerr, managing director of Option 1 Security, told The Publican: “In England stewards are getting £12 to £14 per hour while in Scotland it’s typically £7 to £9 – so I don’t think any will come north at all.
Glasgow-based clubs boss Donald MacLeod of CPL Ltd – an accredited SIA badge-holder himself, added: “Bringing people up from down south isn’t really a proper solution.
“You need people who know their customers and the local scene.”
The Scottish SIA qualification, which costing £245 for three years, takes six to eight weeks to process.
Stewards caught working without a licence face a £5,000 fine or six months in prison, while employers face unlimited fines and a sentence of up to five years.
A nightclub in Buckie, Moray was reportedly forced to close at the weekend because it was unable to source sufficient fully-registered stewards.
Janet Hood, head of trade body BII Scotland, said she was aware of “a large number” of unlicensed stewards still in operation - and added that it had been unwise to launch the new system so close to the festive season.
The Publican
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Date: 14th November 2007
Source: BBC News
Home secretary denies 'blunder' on checks
Jacqui Smith has defended a decision not to publicise the fact that 5,000 illegal immigrants were cleared to work in security, amid claims of a cover-up.
The home secretary denied there had been a "blunder", promising that the government would take "robust action".
Leaks revealed Ms Smith knew about the problem in July, leading to Tory claims she put "spin before public safety".
The BBC's Nick Robinson says in the "worst-case scenario" more than 8,000 people may have been working illegally.
'No blunder'
Countering criticism from the Conservatives, Ms Smith said she had been interested in action rather than words over the situation.
"There was no fiasco, there was no blunder, there was strengthened and improved action," she told MPs.
The "spin" accusations came after a leaked email from her private secretary in July stated that "she did not think that the lines to take that we currently have are good enough for press office or ministers to use to explain the situation".
Ms Smith told MPs that it was true she did not think the "lines to take" were sufficient - but that was because the analysis of the issue was not complete.
She said her priority had been to establish the "full nature and scale" of the problem and to take action to deal with it, "rather than immediately to put incomplete and potentially misleading information into the public domain".
'Honest dialogue'
And she stressed the Security Industry Authority (SIA) had the "discretion" to check an applicant's right to work in the UK - but the "legal duty" rested with the employer.
In April 2007 an enforcement operation had discovered 44 people working at a security company who did not have the right to work in the UK - 12 had been subcontracted to a company that provided staff to guard locations under Metropolitan Police contracts.
Others were employed at ports and airports. One man had been guarding government cars - including that of the prime minister.
Former Conservative leader Michael Howard asked Ms Smith if she had told Mr Brown when the "fiasco" first came to light.
Ms Smith replied: "I did not tell the prime minister because there was not a fiasco. There was action being taken to strengthen the system."
More intensive checks on security applicants began in July, and since then 740 licences have been refused out of 32,500.
But Ms Smith said it remained unclear how many licences had been granted before July to illegal workers.
Around 6,000 cases had been checked so far.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said those figures could mean that, by the time officials finish checks on 40,000 people in December, more than 8,000 illegal workers may be found.
Conservative leader David Cameron told the BBC that leaked emails reported in the Daily Mail appeared to show no announcement was made in July "because this was going to look bad for the government".
A subsequent Home Office report on 20 August admitted that neither the department nor SIA knew the extent of the problem.
It added that the Home Office press office continued to "recommend strongly" that no public statement be made, and that any announcement "would not be presented by the media as a positive story".
The prime minister's spokesman said on Tuesday that Ms Smith had Gordon Brown's full confidence and that he had spoken to her that morning and been "satisfied with the explanation". But he refused to say when Mr Brown had been informed about the problem.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the prime minister had promised a "different type of politics, a more open and honest dialogue".
"Why wasn't the home secretary frank and candid about the 5,000 illegal workers licensed to work in sensitive security posts in this country?"
He added: "The response from the Home Office so far has been blunder, panic and cover-up."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "The new home secretary seems to have learnt nothing from the failures of her predecessors.
"When the Home Office makes a mistake like this it must come clean immediately, own up and start the process of sorting out the mess. It is completely unacceptable that their first instinct was to start a cover-up."
BBC News
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Date: 13th November 2007
Source: North Wales Police
Police distribute hand-held metal detectors to door staff
Police have given metal detecting wands to door staff at pubs and clubs in Denbighshire as part of a campaign to ensure the area remains a safe and pleasant place to live and visit.
Twenty three hand held wands have been funded by the Community Safety Partnership and a training session was recently held at Prestatyn police station with 15 door staff attending.
Neighbourhood Policing Team Sergeant Jonny Hill said: “The wands are to be used at entrances of licensed premises to act as a deterrent to anyone who might carry a knife or gun. Their use is reassuring to the public and will hopefully make both the staff and their customers feel safer.
“The wands are widely used around the country and the licensees we have spoken to are very supportive of the idea. It’s had a good reaction from everyone we’ve approached so far.”
Door staff can simply run the wand over someone and if it detects metal, the door supervisor can ask them to turn out their pockets and can confiscate any items they find. They will then contact the police.
Supt Terry Kellaher said: “In Denbighshire the number of victims of crime in the last three years has reduced by over 2,000 and is a very safe place with one of the highest levels of crime reduction in the UK and the best in Wales.
“The Denbighshire Community Safety Partnership has invested significantly to ensure that this remains the case, the introduction of these wands is not because we are seeing any increase in the numbers of potential weapons in licensed premises but to ensure this type of problem does not come to Denbighshire.
“This is one a number of initiatives to ensure that this remains the case.”
North Wales Police
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Date: 13th November 2007
Source: This is Hampshire
Three years for biting face of club doorman
A DOORMAN at an Eastleigh club was bitten in the face when he refused a punter entry to the premises because he would not subject himself to a body search.
Carl Chambers, pictured above, was restrained but then wrestled Richard McGuire to the ground at the Star Bar where he eventually let go of him.
Prosecutor Richard Withey told Southampton Crown Court it was not a novel incident. Chambers had four previous convictions for biting people, three of them to the face and once to the legs of a police officer.
Chambers, 31, of Shirley Road, Yeovil, was convicted of causing actual bodily harm. He had pleaded not guilty, claiming he had acted in self defence after being restrained because he couldn't breathe.
Judge Jeremy Burdford QC told Chambers he was a dangerous offender and jailed him for three years. His licence was also extended.
This is Hampshire
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Date: 12th November 2007
Source: The Telegraph
Illegal immigrants working as security staff
Thousands of illegal immigrants have been given official licences to work as security guards, the Home Office has admitted.
Ministers have now ordered urgent checks to be carried out on hundreds of thousands of people vetted by the government's Security Industry Authority (SIA) over the past three years.
A loophole in the vetting rules meant that the entitlement of people to work in Britain was not checked for those applying for jobs in the security industry.
According to newspaper reports, investigators have discovered illegal immigrants working at the Metropolitan Police, government departments and at ports and airports since the situation first came to light in July.
One illegal immigrant was even employed as a security guard charged with protecting the Prime Minister's Jaguar.
The Conservatives said that the latest "fiasco" proved that, despite a series of similar scandals, the Home Office was still not "fit for purpose".
Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, said: "What is extraordinary about this latest Home office fiasco is that we have been through this before. Last year the Home Office discovered it was employing illegal immigrants as cleaners in the Immigration Department itself."
"From these new revelations it looks like no effective action was taken to check who has access to some of the most sensitive buildings in this country. It looks like the Home Office is still not fit for purpose."
The SIA was set up by the Home Office to regulate the security industry and started issuing licences in 2004. It reports directly to the department, and has so far cleared around 250,000 applicants.
However, checks were previously only made to ensure that applicants did not have a criminal record.
In October, Group 4 Securicor employee Marouane Bourannane appeared in court charged with possessing a fake passport. The 35-year old Algerian guarded politicians at the Labour and Tory conferences and allegedly had a picture of himself with Gordon Brown on his mobile phone.
A Home Office spokesman said that urgent action was now being taken to rectify the situation.
"The SIA took immediate action as soon as they became aware that some licence-holders had been employed illegally," he said.
"From July this year, all new applicants have been granted a licence only if they are entitled to seek work in the UK.
"Ministers ordered checks on all existing licence-holders and these will be completed shortly.
The Telegraph
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Date: 9th November 2007
Source: Highland News
Door staff shortage in Scotland
New legislation brought in across Scotland last week by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) means all bouncers, store security guards, bodyguards, CCTV operators and some private investigators now have to be accredited by the organisation before they can work. To qualify for a licence, door staff must have their identity and criminal background checked, undergo training and sit exams with an accredited firm and clearly display the licence badge when working.
And those found without SIA badges or paperwork could face a fine and while establishments employing unlicensed door supervisors risk losing their licence.
Peter Corbett, chairman of Inverness licensing committee, insisted licences could be affected if businesses do not adhere to the new rules.
He added: "We will be asking for evidence, when it comes to licenses, renewals, or extensions, that all security companies provided will meet the current regulations and are SIA registered."
Mr Corbett also insisted the council was taking steps to regulate the industry themselves and hopes there will be licensing officers in place by next April.
He said: "I believe the licensing trade are behind this latest step as it is in their interest to have trained and qualified staff on their doors as it will help ensure the public will have a safe and secure night out in Inverness."
Donald Sommerville, clerk of the Highland licensing board, added: "Clearly it's not the Highland Council's responsibility to make sure these people are properly badged."
However, he said a complaint from the police or the SIA could lead to enforcement action, including the suspension of the license.
In the North-east, one nightclub has already been forced to shut its doors by police because it couldn't provide adequate cover for the venue. Bubbles in Buckie was ordered to close at the weekend by Grampian Police.
Two security firm bosses have confirmed their companies have been approached by late-night businesses in Inverness worried about not having staff that meet the new regulations.
Glen Cadwallader's company, Moray Security, is responsible security at two city centre establishments – Motion and Gunsmiths.
He revealed: "There are certainly a number of doors in Inverness this weekend that I know do not have stewards with the relevant documentation.
"I believe the SIA are probably going to be quite lenient at first due to delays in the system and the recent postal strikes.
"However, in the coming weeks and months there is going to be a shortage of door staff in Inverness as a result of decisions coming back from the SIA as to whether certain people are allowed to work in this industry.
"A similar fate could befall Inverness as it did in some of the English cities and towns when these regulations came into effect in 2005."
Mr Cadwallader added: "I am expecting a similar situation to what I am facing in Aberdeen with managers of venues panicking as they do not have licensed door staff and are fearful they will have to close their venues."
Alan Morton, managing director of Up Front Security, the largest door security firm in the UK, said: "I cannot speak for Inverness as a whole, but every member of staff we employ was SIA sufficient as of Thursday.
"Up Front have been approached by several establishments in Inverness recently who were worried about having door staff that meets the criteria set out by the SIA working on the door. I am not going to name names, but I must stress it is very important that anyone with staff working on their doors not trained to industry standards to do so immediately and also get the stewards to apply for a license.
Highland News
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Date: 5th November 2007
Source: Blackpool Today
Doormen rescue woman in sea drama
TWO Blackpool doormen have been hailed life savers after rescuing a woman from the sea.
Tony McLaughlin and Colin Hover rescued the 45-year-old South Shore woman after she was swept into the water by North Pier.
Her teenage daughter and friend were left standing helpless on the promenade.
Tony McLaughlin, 39, head doorman for Eden, a lap-dancing club on the Promenade, said: "I saw some girls on the upper Prom, then they disappeared – so I went over to see if they were OK.
"One was screaming 'my mum's in the water' and they were trying to get a lifebelt down."
Witnesses said the woman, who has not been named, jumped into the sea from the steps of the lower Promenade.
Tony, a former Fleetwood fisherman, who has been working as a door supervisor for 10 years, added: "I know what the sea is like, so I called on the radio for help.
"It was really dark down there and the sea was rough. But she was at arms length so I got her around the waist and we dragged her out.
"She was very cold and confused. She was very lucky. Her daughter and friend were there so we were trying to keep them calm."
Tony, of Bramley Avenue, Fleetwood, added: "There's a lot of bad press about door staff but we are on the front line.
"We have to control situations until the police arrive. It's about time people didn't look at us as thugs. We're always here to help."
Door supervisor Colin, 36, of Victoria Street, Fleetwood, was quickly on the scene to help his colleague.
Colin, who is a trained first- aider and attends 999 calls as a volunteer community responder, said: "It was coming up to high tide and the waves were coming up over the wall.
"We managed to pull her out. I don't like to see people in trouble.
"It's not that heroic, it's a duty of care.
But the two heroes did not stop there ... they had to go back to finish off their shifts until 5am.
Colin added: "We get the bad name as being bouncers who beat people up, but we try to prevent escalating incidents."
Police and the ambulance service attended the incident, which happened in the early hours of October 28.
"The woman was treated by paramedics for hypothermia.
Colin also works as a technician at Blackpool and Fylde Nautical College and worked as a member of Fleetwood RNLI for two years.
He added: "The sea is so dangerous. If you see anyone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
"Don't go into the water yourself, find a lifebelt to throw in and keep a check on the location of the victim."
A spokesman for the ambulance service confirmed "a person was pulled out of the sea and taken to casualty at Blackpool Victoria Hospital".
PC Andrew Blakeney, of Blackpool Police, said: "The sea was really very rough that night. If it hadn't been for the bravery and quick thinking of the two men, this could very quickly have turned into a tragedy"
Blackpool Today
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Date: 2nd November 2007
Source: The Herald
‘Stop using the word bouncer ... it’s now strictly off limits’
There is a feeling of a fresh start among the door supervisors who protect pubs and clubs across Scotland - but don't mention the word bouncer.
Kenny Mitchell, training manager at Up Front Security, currently employing almost 900 door staff in Scotland, said yesterday: "You have really got to stop using the word bouncer. It is now strictly off limits. The qualification is called the National Certificate for Door Supervisors.
"The industry has always been professional but has suffered from a bad public perception, driven by characters like Hale and Pace. This regulation is good news for the industry."
As of today, the Security Industry Association's (SIA's) remit will run north of the Border to regulate a business that has suffered from association with individuals such as convicted gun runner Paul Ferris, linked to Premier Security - with a reported turnover of £6.2m.
Until now, major cities in Scotland adopted a voluntary scheme of licensing door staff. While pub or club owners could have their licences refused or revoked, under the SIA regime individuals found to be working as a door supervisor without correct paperwork could face a £5000 fine or a six-month prison sentence.
In preparation for today, officers from the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency have visited Merseyside Police, which recently ran the UK's biggest operation on rogue security firms. Operation Seahog involved SIA experts, immigration officials and staff from the Department of Work and Pensions.
Hundreds of construction sites were raided and dozens of people arrested while companies under suspicion of laundering money had their accounts investigated.
Senior officers hope to emulate that joint working method in Scotland to remove rogue firms and organised criminal networks.
The SIA said it would be working closely with the police over the next few months to enforce legislation and catch unlicenced operators. Licences take approximately six weeks to be granted, but certain specially approved firms which have already licenced 85% of their employees will be able to employ the remaining 15% as they wait.
Mr Mitchell, who this week has been training students to SIA standards in Inverness, said: "On an average weekend night in Glasgow, you have three to four times more door supervisors on duty than police officers.
"It is important that door supervisors can spot and prevent situations from arriving and not be left dealing with situations after they arrive: it's the ability to defuse situations before they become problematic. When people become angry or aggressive, we need to know how to handle the situation so it doesn't escalate any further.
"We use a lot of role play in the training so that people can see how their own reactions can affect the reactions of others."
Alan Morton, managing director of Up Front Security, agreed: "The term bouncer is really becoming obsolete. Bouncer is becoming a term of degradation. I think it is used to describe the very type of person that licensing will eradicate, such as those with a long criminal record and a history of violence.
"The industry is now becoming dominated by large professional suppliers of door supervisors. They are transparent and will run upstanding companies.
"However, that is not to say that there are not organisations which exist below radar, ones which still would attempt to evade SIA enforcement and also try to continue to evade other bodies. There are people for example who would not pay taxes and do not employ suitable people to work in public safety."
Cleaning up the image of the industry has been an expensive business, firms can pay £250 for the training of each candidate, with the individual spending £245 on licence costs. The SIA demands a criminal record and passport checks as well as a minimum of 30 hours training in law, licensing policy and skills such as conflict management.
Mr Morton, who started out as a door supervisor in Glasgow 18 years ago, said: "It is an expensive and sometimes painful time for the industry, but essential."
The Herald
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Date: 1st November 2007
Source: BBC News
SIA Begins in Scotland
Members of a new watchdog for the private security industry in Scotland have begun their work.
The Scottish board of the Security Industry Authority has been set up to oversee the introduction of training and licensing for security staff.
The regulations will apply to staff such as nightclub bouncers, store security guards, bodyguards, private investigators and CCTV operators.
By the end of 2007, all staff will have to be vetted and licensed.
The rules already apply in England and Wales.
Unsuitable people
However, extending the SIA's remit to Scotland required an amendment to a Westminster act of parliament.
The Scottish Executive had considered establishing a separate Scottish SIA but it concluded that the costs and regulatory burden on Scottish companies would have been far higher.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Regulation will provide reassurance by preventing unsuitable people from obtaining positions of trust in the private security industry.
"It will ensure that security personnel are fit and proper people who are competent to perform their duties.
"It will also benefit legitimate private security businesses and staff in driving up standards and driving out the small minority of operators who are tarnishing their good name by using the industry as a front for illegal activities."
Andy Drane, SIA deputy chief executive, said: "Regulation in Scotland will ensure standards of training and professionalism in the private security industry are the same across Great Britain.
"The public will benefit from one regulator and one licensing scheme which will allow them to have confidence in a regulated and trusted industry, and Scottish security businesses will not be disadvantaged in a competitive market."
BBC News
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Date: 1st November 2007
Source: Peterborough Today
Door staff OK'd after inspection in Peterborough
Door supervisors working at 15 city centre pub and club night-spots were found to be working within professional guidelines during a joint inspection conducted by Peterborough City Council, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) on Friday.
The inspections were part of a Peterborough Evening Partnership initiative which aims to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy trouble-free leisure and entertainment.
City council licensing enforcement officer Darren Dolby said: “Night-time leisure attractions make an important contribution to Peterborough’s success as a regional centre. We are pleased that pub and club operators recognise the value of ensuring that their door supervisors are fully trained and can carry out their responsibilities in a professional manner.”
Licensing officer with Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Pc Ifor Maddox added: “Regulation by the SIA ensures high standards of training and behaviour of door staff, who play a key role in Peterborough’s night-time economy.
Head of investigation for SIA’s East Region Jackie Munn said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of this operation. All of the door staff checked held valid SIA Door Supervisor licences.”
Peterborough Today
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