by Ewan Turney
The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) has slammed the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for refusing to listen to constructive proposals on how to avert a meltdown when the final deadline for doorstaff registration passes on 11 April.
The pressure on the SIA reached boiling point last week as it was summoned to Westminster to field questions from the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group chaired by John Grogan.
The meeting follows last week's letter by the BBPA, BII and the Bar Entertainment and Dance Association to the Home Office outlining their "serious concerns" about the acute shortage of registered doorstaff.
Trade bodies believe the industry will be short of 83,000 doorstaff when the scheme goes live in April.
BBPA director of communications Mark Hastings said the trade had tabled "at least three constructive proposals" believed to be extending the deadline, introducing interim powers in the form of provisional licensing or a fast track scheme.
"The SIA is excelling itself in turning a deaf ear to every proposal put forward," he said. "It does not worry them one jot that there will be a shortage of qualified doorstaff, but the clear implication of this is that the safety of the community will be jeopardised."
He added: "The problem needs to be solved. Digging their heels in is not going to help."
SIA assistant director Mary Hennessy said the doorstaff registration deadline would "abso-lutely not be extended".
She said: "We are frankly appalled that the industry is looking at the SIA as a scapegoat. What have they done to ensure their door supervisors have had the appropriate training?"
Hennessy added the SIA had "conclusive evidence" operators were leaving applications until the last minute and accused the trade of being "unprofessional".
The focus of the argument will now shift to the Commons after several MPs tabled questions for the Home Secretary Charles Clark to answer. Grogan will also write to Clark about the findings of the meeting.