Three pub managers without the mandatory SIA licence were found to be unlawfully employing door staff during checks in Scunthorpe on Friday [20 Feb]. 18 licensed premises were visited by the SIA, Humberside Police and North Lincolnshire Council as part of an operation to check that staff at the venues held SIA licences. By law, all door staff must hold a frontline SIA licence and display this while working. If they are employed directly by a venue as staff member, rather than through a contractor, the manager must hold a non-frontline licence. Of the 38 individuals checked, all of the door staff had valid SIA licences. However, three bar managers are to be dealt with by police as they were found to be employing in-house door staff without holding the necessary non-frontline licence.
Jackie Munn, an SIA Head of Investigation said: “It is very encouraging to see that all door staff checked in Scunthorpe were properly SIA licensed, showing awareness of the requirements aimed at protecting the public. “However, venue managers must understand that if they employ door security staff in-house, not only must the door staff be licensed, the manager must also hold their own non-frontline licence.”