Looming crisis over bouncers, MP claims

04 April 2005 by
Looming crisis over bouncers, MP claims

A Labour MP is set to challenge the Government in the House of Commons about the looming crisis facing clubs and pubs employing bouncers.

Eric Illsley, MP for Barnsley South, will tomorrow call for a delay in the 11 April cut-off date for doorman to be licensed across the nation.

He also wants the police not to prosecute about 10,500 bouncers whose applications have been sent in but haven't yet been processed.

Under the current laws by 11 April every door worker in England and Wales can be prosecuted if they do not hold a licence to work.

Only about 13,500 door workers out of the possible 100,000 are believed to have received the Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences so far.

Hundreds of pubs and clubs could be forced to shut their doors due to a shortage of licensed doormen.

And the shortage could be exacerbated if those working illegally are prosecuted and found guilty, as this will result in a five-year ban.

Illsley said: "In my opinion the SIA are only interested in flexing their muscles and do not care about keeping law and order in the leisure industry."

Home Office minister Hazel Blear is expected to bow to pressure not to prosecute door workers who have applied but are awaiting their certificates.

by Shirley Kumar

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