SIA revokes 624 licences

Doorstaff licences are being revoked or suspended at an increasing rate, according to figures from the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

Doorstaff licences are being revoked or suspended at an increasing rate.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) revoked 624 licences and suspended 382 in 2009/2010, according to the regulator's latest annual report — up 12% on the previous year.

The figures relate to licences across a range of sectors, with doorstaff making up a big part.

"This rise was the result of developing closer working relationships with partner agencies and raising awareness of our licensing criteria," said the report.

It shows 97% of the 2,387 people checked in inspections were fully licensed.

Targets for processing 80% of licence applications within 40 days were exceeded — 95% were completed in this time.

The SIA put it down to updating its IT infrastructure and improving monitoring of operational capacity.

Plans for the future include reducing rejection rates for applications and having a simpler renewals process "without unnecessary repetition of previously requested information".