The initiative, which will run through Christmas into the New Year, will see SIA investigators working with regional police forces, licensing officers, local authorities and other partners to ensure only SIA licensed door staff are employed at licensed premises.
As part of the campaign, the SIA has allowed one of its employees to use a low-quality Christmas-themed pun.
Jackie Munn, an SIA head of investigation, who is leading on Operation Cinnamon said: “I am looking forward to working with our partners during Operation Cinnamon to ensure compliance with the law. We want the festive season to be a safe and enjoyable one for the public.
“I want to reinforce the message that SIA licence holders are trained, qualified and professional operatives – there is no room at the inn for amateurs.”
Follow-up operation
Last weekend, SIA investigators worked with officers from Strathclyde Police as they carried out compliance checks on door supervisors working at licensed premises across south Lanarkshire.
The visit was a follow-up to an SIA-led operation in March and the police wanted to ensure that only SIA licensed door staff were being employed at licensed premises.
Twenty-one door supervisors were checked across 10 licensed premises in Lanark, Hamilton, Cambuslang and Rutherglen.
Thirteen offences were found – 12 Section 3 offences (working without an SIA licence) and one Section 5 offence (supplying or employing unlicensed door supervisors).
Disappointing results
Christy Hopkins, an SIA head of investigation, said: “While these results are very disappointing, it shows the quality of our intelligence-led approach to enforcement. Strathclyde Police and the SIA are committed to targeting our activities at those companies who continue to flout the law and deploy untrained and unlicensed security staff.
“The door supervisors discovered on Saturday were reported and now face possible police prosecution.
“This is just the latest stage in our compliance activities and we have plans to return to this area and others in Strathclyde to ensure that non-compliance is no longer an option. Our focus will continue to be ensuring public safety in South Lanarkshire and the wider Strathclyde area.”
Chief Superintendent Tim Love, Divisional Commander for South Lanarkshire, said: “The premises visited have been identified from intelligence provided by the local community that unlicensed door supervisors were working on licensed premises.
“My officers supported the SIA Investigators as part of Safer South Lanarkshire. While the majority of premises visited complied with the legislation, I am disappointed that offences were detected, I want the public to have the confidence that when they are enjoying and supporting the night-time economy in the area they are reassured, that the door supervisors responsible for their security and protection are licensed.
“We will continue to support responsible licensees and act on information from the public, which will assist in impacting on serious and organised criminals who operate within the security industry.”
