SIA to be phased out

The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which regulates the licensing of door staff, is to be phased out with licensing transferred to a new regulatory regime.

It emerged last month that the future of the SIA was under threat as the Government looked to cut costs on quangos and today it confirmed the SIA would see a "phased transition to new regulatory regime" — although no further details are currently available on what the new regime might be or how long such a transition would take.

Paul Smith, director of bar and club trade body Noctis, said that the Government could transfer door staff licensing to local authorities or establish a self-funding national body to oversee the process.

"The worry is that there will be no new regime and that will undo a lot of the good work that has been done in making door staff professional.

"Our message to the Government is you can't do nothing. You need to find a solution."

Noctis is in discussions with the Government over the issue and would prefer a national scheme rather than one at local level.

"At local level, you can not move your badge and there is no uniform national standard. It may be a cheap solution to pass on to local authorities but whether it is a decent solution remains to be seen."

Smith argued a lean self-financing national body could be established and be based in the North West. "It never made sense to me why the SIA was based in central London with the high rents.

"Most of its dealings are with the Criminal records Bureau, which is in Liverpool."

He added: "It is a very serious situation and the continuation of registration of door staff is absolutely crucial."

Although industry leaders have criticised the SIA in the past for its red tape and agreed it could drastically reduce costs, most believe it has a place in the industry and has heavily contributed to the professionalisation of door staff.

"Abolishing the Security Industry Authority is wrong. It will hit decent employers, it will expose the public to unnecessary risks and will undoubtedly end in tears and in the courts," said Paul Kenny of the GMB trade union.

"Is the Government saying that it is OK for crooks, drug dealers and those convicted of criminal assaults to set up and run security companies?"