Pubs and clubs across London have been given more time to avert a bouncer recruitment crisis, after security professionals were given an extended window in which to apply for their licences to operate.
The Metropolitan Police Service has agreed not to prosecute bouncers who do not have a valid Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence until 5 June, although doormen must prove they have applied for the licence.
Eric Illsley, Labour MP for Barnsley South, had called for the government to extend the 11 April deadline for licence applications across the whole country. About 13,500 door workers out of a possible 100,000 have been approved so far, he said.
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Hundreds of clubs and pubs could be forced to shut down due to a shortage of licensed door staff now that the deadlines have passed.
Although the matter was debated in the House of Commons last week, Illsley said that there was little hope of an official extension across all areas.
