Tobias Tobias Ellwood MP has written to the Minister of State, Rt. Hon. Hazel Blears MP, to ask how Bournemouth's security firms can be expected to manage all the town's pubs and clubs when up to a third of staff will soon be legally unable to work.

New legislation will come into effect on Monday making it compulsory for all security guards to be in possession of a licence. Security workers across Bournemouth have been applying to the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for licenses since last September but, over six months later, many are still waiting to receive them.

Tobias Ellwood said:
"Door supervisors, who have completed training and have paid a licensing fee from their own pockets over half a year ago, are still unable to work.

One Bournemouth security firm, with a workforce of 60, is facing laying off, 25 fully trained staff, simply because they have not received their licences. This not only affects the firm's business it also means the safe management of Bournemouth's pubs and clubs will be threatened.

Bournemouth police rely on door staff to help keep the night time economy under control. The challenge of policing the town centre, has already been compounded by the introduction 24 hour licensing, and is now set to become tougher unless the Government acts quickly.

Ironically, Bournemouth, in conjunction with Westminster Council, had pioneered a coded badge system allowing those door staff with varying degrees of training to work as security staff but under supervision of those with more advanced qualifications. Tobias has asked for an urgent meeting with the Minister of State, Hazel Blears MP and the SIA to see if this system can be reconsidered.

The SIA is clearly unable to cope with the deluge of applications. A situation which will only get worse as all those working in other areas of security, from shops to building sites, are now also obliged to obtain the new SIA licence."