The Home Affairs Ministry has described the process for issuing new bouncer licences as “adequate”, even though only 28 security guards have one.
More applications are being processed- Ministry
Two weeks ago, The Sunday Times reported just 28 bouncers had been issued with a Private Guard at a Place of Entertainment licence, which they have been legally required to possess since June 30 to work in bars and clubs.
This figure is barely enough to cover a few Paceville venues, let alone the rest of the country.
According to the ministry, only applications received up to April 30 have been approved and more are being processed.
“In the light of the above facts, it is considered that the process for the issuing of these licences is adequate,” a ministry spokesman said.
But on July 23 the police told The Sunday Times the Police Commissioner had approved all submitted applications and none were pending.
Discussions about regulating the security industry have been ongoing for several years, prompted by cases of beatings in Paceville by bouncers, many of them unlicensed.
In court last Friday, three Brazilians claimed they were assaulted by bouncers in Bar Native in Paceville.
A Serbian bouncer was charged with working without a licence, among other crimes, but five Maltese bouncers allegedly involved in the incident were not arrested.
Amendments to the Private Guard and Local Wardens Act in 2010 introduced distinct licences for private guards at places of entertainment.
All bouncers were supposed to have one by October 1, 2011, but this was pushed back to January 31 and then 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. But a legal notice in February made this no longer applicable to those who had held a private guard licence for at least six months prior to January 31.
Security sources told The Sunday Times the ministry had caused panic by advising all guards would need to hold the new licence to work at big, outdoor events after June 30, such as Floriana Granaries concerts.
The ministry denied this, pointing out that “concert venues” and “places where seats are provided for stage performances or plays” are excluded from the definition of a “place of entertainment”.