§ 15. Dr. Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak)If he will make a statement on the licensing of door supervisors. [61104]
§ The Minister of State, Home Department (Mr. Paul Boateng)We are committed to introducing statutory regulation of the whole of the private security industry, including door supervisors. As we suggested in opposition, there is no time for legislation on this issue early in our term of office. In the meantime, we are working with the industry and others to draw up firm proposals for comprehensive, effective and streamlined regulation of the whole of the private security industry. The consultation exercise was completed last year to inform that process. We are reflecting on the outcome, and hope to be able to announce our proposals for regulation shortly.
§ Dr. JonesI thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but he will be aware from the endorsement in the foreword by the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Knowsley, North and Sefton, East (Mr. Howarth), that the code of practice produced recently by the British Entertainment and Discotheque Association, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Local Government Association called for the registration of door supervisors to be put on a statutory basis as a matter of urgency. They say that that is the best way of tackling drug-related crime in night clubs. In view of their call for urgency, and the fact that the comprehensive legislation proposed by the Government is not imminent, will my hon. Friend consider extending to other areas the current provisions in the London Local Authorities Act 1996?
§ Mr. BoatengWe will certainly have a look at that; it is our policy to keep these matters constantly under review. All the organisations that my hon. Friend mentioned recognise that it would not be wise to regulate door supervisors alone, ahead of the rest of the industry. I commend all those—local authorities, the private sector and the police—who have already set up more than 100 schemes that are about registering door supervisors, and involve effective police checks and training. Good work is being done in Bradford, Middlesbrough, York and 534 Liverpool. We want more of that work to be done, but, in the meantime, we will indeed keep the matter under review. There is an issue that needs to be addressed, and we are addressing it.