Doormen checks show licence irregularities (From Bicester Advertiser)

Doormen checks show licence irregularities

6:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in News By Mark Taylor, Reporter. Please call me on (01865) 425411

ONE in every 10 doormen guarding the pubs and clubs of Oxford had an irregular licence, an investigation uncovered.

In the first operation of its kind, Thames Valley Police and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) carried out spot checks across the county last Friday.

Officers inspected 101 door supervisors at 42 premises to check their licences met regulations.

Basic errors such as mis-spelled names or other incorrect details on the licence would result in a non-compliance warning.

In Oxford 19 premises were visited and 51 doormen checked. Five were given non-compliance warnings.

The compliance rate in total for Oxford city was 90 per cent with correct licences, but countywide the number was lower at 83 per cent.

Across the county, nine doormen were found to be in breach of SIA licence conditions by not notifying criminal convictions or a change of address.

In Witney, where five premises were checked, one doorman of eight was working illegally without a licence and two others were warned for non-compliance.

In Banbury six pubs and clubs were checked, and of 17 doormen scrutinised three were given warnings for non-compliance.

Four premises were checked in Bicester, and of the eight doormen two were issued with warnings.

In Didcot six doormen were checked at two premises, and two warnings were given for incorrect information.

And in Abingdon, of the six premises visited and 11 people checked, two doormen were issued with warnings for non-compliance.

Those who did not comply with the licence conditions were given a warning. The Oxford Retreat was one of the 19 city venues visited on Friday, with all door staff passing the necessary checks.

Manager Webster Andrews said: “We were happy to take part. “It’s hugely important to have fully licensed door staff because of the extra level of protection it provides our customers.”

Raoul’s cocktail bar in Walton Street, Oxford, was not visited on this occasion but the premises have been inspected previously.

Manager Alex Proudfoot said: “In the same way you wouldn’t get into an unlicensed taxi, why would you go into a pub with an unlicensed doorman?”

Police spokeswoman Lucy Billen said details of the non-compliant venues could not be released because there was an ongoing investigation.