Security shortage 'becoming critical'

According to the trade body, about one in five night-time and hospitality businesses had to close last month or operate on reduced hours as a result of a shortage of security staff.

Since then, however, NTIA chief executive Michael Kill has warned that the situation has 'deteriorated further', putting the public 'in real jeopardy'.

“Door security staff shortages in the night time economy are becoming critical," he says. 

"We carried out a survey a few months ago which found that security resource in the sector was only at 70%, and I am afraid that the situation has only deteriorated further since then. Whether it is through acting as a first line of defence against a terrorist attack, or intervening to break up violent incidents, licensed security staff are fundamental to public safety.

"The current shortages are beginning to put the public in real jeopardy.

“Like in other sectors currently seeing shortages, this is a long term issue and decline in security resources can be tracked back at least 3 years, but this has been hugely exacerbated by the pandemic with many licensed staff leaving the sector when the bars and clubs closed and now choosing not to return. Brexit hasn’t helped either, but it is far from the only factor at play here.

“There are steps the Government can take to ease the problem, whether that be funding training initiatives, streamlining new training requirements, or tackling shortages through legislation – and I would also like to see them revisit the issue of temporary visas to assuage the crisis.

"Government must come to the table and look at these solutions we are putting forward as sector – this is a serious problem, which, if left alone, may lead to a tragedy.”