Door steward bosses want licence fee plan thrown out

SECURITY company bosses have hit out at new legislation which will force nightclub bouncers to fork out hundreds of pounds for a licence.

All guards and door stewards will soon have to pay £245 to work in the industry, on top of a further £100 to £200 for the training needed to get the licence.

Security bosses in the Capital are worried the costs will be too much for their employees, especially those who just work part-time. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is launching the licence today in Scotland.

Currently, stewards in Scotland are only licensed by local authorities and not by the SIA, which at the moment just covers those working in England and Wales.

From November it will be illegal for security guards to work in the industry without an SIA licence.

Company bosses in Edinburgh are frustrated by the costs involved with the new legislation.

Because the licences are granted to individuals and will last them three years, most companies are reluctant to fork out the money to pay for their employees' training and licences in case the staff quit shortly afterwards.

Mark Hamilton, managing director of Edinburgh-based security firm Rock Steady, has hit out against the high cost of the licence fee.

He said: "That's a big shout for part-time workers.

"My own company, along with 14 others who all met in Glasgow the other day, are asking to delay the increase, giving people time to raise the cash - considering it takes another £300 to train people. Fifteen thousand people are working in the industry in Scotland."

Granton-based Clockwork Security employs between 20 and 25 guards who will be faced with the hefty fees.

Manager Gavin Deauville said: "Security is not a very highly paid job. Most of the people working in the security industry make between minimum wage and £6.50 per hour so it's not a high-paying job.

"Having to pay this fee is difficult for them, but they don't have much choice, especially if they have been doing security for a number of years, as they might find it difficult to move into another career.

"We are going to help subsidise our employees who have been with us for a while and who are going to stick around, but we are not going to pay for all of it."

Despite his concerns about the costs associated with the licence, Mr Deauville added that he can see the benefits.

He said: "In one way it's great to weed out the cowboys and to improve the perception of the industry and legislate the industry, but it's just the costs involved that's the problem."

A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland said: "

The Scottish Police Service looks forward to working with the SIA and the security industry in the future in this important area of policing."

People working in the security guard industry will be able to apply to the SIA for a licence from today and will have until November to become fully licensed.