Only 28 security guards are licensed to act as bouncers in Malta, The Sunday Times has learnt.
Establishments are employing people as door hosts rather than paying companies for security staff
From June 30, all bouncers working in bars and nightclubs were legally required to possess a new Private Guard at a Place of Entertainment licence.
Those wishing to acquire the licence had to apply to the Police Commissioner.
When asked, the police informed The Sunday Times that they received just 28 applications – barely enough to cover a handful of Paceville clubs, let alone the rest of the country. All applications were approved.
Bar owner Philip Fenech, president of the Leisure Section of the GRTU, agreed 28 licensed bouncers was not enough to cover the demands of the nightlife industry.
“I suspect the reason may be that some establishments are employing people as ‘door hosts’ rather than paying companies to provide security staff,” he said.
“I’m not sure if these people would require a licence but certainly not all work at the door involves security.”
Amendments to the Private Guards and Local Wardens Act had been on the table for several years, prompted by high-profile cases of beatings by bouncers, notably in Paceville.
One of the biggest changes was introducing separate licences for private guards at places of entertainment, specialised private guards (driving) and specialised private guards (non-driving).
The amendments were supposed to be in place on October 1 last year, but this was pushed back to January 31 and again to June 30.
Security guards were originally required to have five years’ service as a private guard or in the police, armed forces or prison services to qualify.
Thanks to a legal notice that was issued in February, this was no longer applicable to people who had held a private guard licence for at least six months prior to January 31.
Such people had to apply for the new licence before April 30 and submit a reference from the private guard agency currently or previously employing them.
Clubbers ought to be able to spot which bouncers are working legally as they should wear their licence card in a conspicuous place while on duty.
The amendments allow the Police Commissioner to require licence applicants to attend a specialised course.
The police said none have yet been asked to do so as “there was a concession to all applicants who had been licensed as a private guard for six or more months prior to their application”.
Kenneth De Martino, chief executive of KDM Group, said his company started offering courses for specialised guards at places of entertainment last month.
The course has been “well received” and two groups have completed it so far.
Meanwhile, the police have received a considerable number of applications for other guard licences. A total of 158 applications for specialised private guard (driving) and 127 applications for specialised private guard (non-driving) have been approved and issued.
The Home Affairs Ministry did not respond to a request for a comment about the low number of licensed bouncers before going to print.
pcooke@timesofmalta.com