Threat to close pubs after crackdown on bouncers

Pubs and clubs in Bristol may be forced to close after a crackdown on unlicensed bouncers last weekend.

Seventy-five pubs and clubs in the city were issued with warning letters from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) following raids organised by the body in conjunction with the police, immigration services and the local authority.

David Porter, head of investigation at the SIA in the South-west, said the operation had identified a large number of unlicensed door staff working in Bristol.

"The majority of these have either left it too late to apply or have failed to apply through their own deliberate inaction or neglect. I'm appalled that venues continue to use unlicensed door staff."

Bouncers in England and Wales should have registered with the SIA by 11 April. Two-thirds of the 45,000 doormen in England and Wales have applied for a licence, with 17,000 issued so far, according to the SIA.

An SIA spokesman said: "Doormen are not taking licensing seriously and not getting their applications in on time."

Doormen in London have been given extra time to apply for licences. The Metropolitan and City of London police have agreed to an amnesty until 5 June, during which time bouncers who have applied for a licence will not be prosecuted.

The British Beer & Pub Association expects the new licences to result in doormen asking for higher wages.

"If there are fewer licensed doormen around, they can demand higher salaries. Whether or not salaries
will increase in the long term is difficult to say," a spokesman said.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 21 April 2005