§ Mr. McCartneyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to control the activity of door supervisors on licensed premises.
§ Mr. John PattenAs a result of a meeting in September 1990 with representatives of organisations using and providing door supervisors, a survey of police forces was conducted earlier this year to provide information on the nature and extent of problems associated with door supervisors and on any schemes which had been set up to tackle these problems on licensed premises where identified.
438WThe survey revealed that most parts of the country are experiencing some problems with door supervisors, including incidents of violent behaviour. Most of the local registration schemes in existence or planned focus on 1.he need for identification, and to a lesser extent training, of door supervisors. In many cases, registration of door supervisors is a condition of the issue or renewal of a public entertainments licence. In some cases it is required that the employment of individual door supervisors be approved by a local committee, comprising representatives of the police and local authorities.
It is not possible at this stage to evaluate the effectiveness of these schemes since most of them are of relatively recent origin. The operation of a representative sample is, however, currently being monitored. We aim to have the interim results of this exercise next spring, to consult with interested parties and to publish a final report before the end of 1992. Our intention is then to issue guidelines to all police forces on the most effective means by which conduct of door supervisors may be controlled. In the meantime the Home Office will maintain close contact with interested parties.