Licence fiasco for door staff
Many of the door supervisors at Plymouth clubs and pubs were unable to work for weeks following the gaffe by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
The SIA apologised to city door staff at a Clubwatch meeting, and now the Government says it will consider compensation claims 'on a case-by-case basis'.
Plymouth police's licensing department has also offered to help the SIA 'fast-track' applications, but has warned door staff that if they work unlicensed, even due to the delay, they will be prosecuted – '“with a heavy heart'.
One Plymouth doorman said he was £2,000 out of pocket as a result, and would definitely make a claim.
Others are thought to be have been even more seriously affected, and some are still not able to return to work.
Nationally, thousands of doormen have been affected, with 346 still stuck in the system last month – six months after the administrative foul-up which led to the delays.
Problems started when door supervisors tried to renew their SIA 'badges', a legal requirement for working on the doors which must be done every three years.
Renewals, which cost £245, can be applied for up to four months in advance, and many door staff did this.
The normal turn-around period is nine weeks, but delays of 15 to 16 weeks, and in some cases much longer, were caused when the London-based SIA moved a subcontracted 'management service provider' from Newcastle to Liverpool last year.
Tom Hill, an SIA investigator, told door staff at this month's Clubwatch meeting, that documents had been lost during the move, affecting applications which were received in October and November.
“The SIA recognises that because of the issue of long delays, some people in the industry have lost money”, he said.
“The last thing we want is for people to lose money because of delays. If you can show evidence you have lost money, people have been granted compensation.”
Plymouth doormen said MP Linda Gilroy had even supported their licence claims – but without result.
Khalid Magouti, who works at Union Street's Jesters nightspot, waited six months for his licence to arrive, despite the renewal fee being taken from his account.
He said 'loads' of Plymouth doorstaff had been affected and added. “It's my only job.”
Martin Agus, of Plymouth's Event Security South West, called the SIA's service ridiculous and said: “I'm still waiting for my licence. My application has been fast-tracked.”
Michael Clifton, also of Event Security, waited more than seven months for his badge – and even when it arrived he had to pay postage.
He has lost £2,000 in earnings and said six of his 25 staff had been severely affected.
“Some will be applying for compensation, definitely,” he said.
Tracey Hosken, boss of Varsity at Derry's Cross, said: “It's a big issue. For some doormen it's their only job.”
Police licensing Sgt Martin Worthington said he had 'every sympathy' for door staff caught in the system. “My department will do everything we can to get the applications through”, he said, but warned that unlicensed door staff, and the venues employing them, were committing an offence, and would be visited by police.
Comment on this story