Bouncers at entertainment outlets will have special obligations placed on them under a new Bill to be published in the coming days.

New licences would be issued to both security guards at entertainment establishments and private guards protecting valuables, government sources said. However, a net distinction would be made between the two types and the new licences would outline their specific duties and obligations.

The new law will amend the existing Private Guards And Local Wardens Act, which already establishes that private guards have to be licensed. However, the level of regulation has been deemed to be insufficient following a spate of incidents involving security personnel at clubs.

The latest incident, last Tuesday, saw two men - 41-year-old Stephen Catania and 25-year-old Bernard Briffa - being accused of the attempted murder of two Italians early on Sunday morning and of working as private guards without a licence. Both pleaded not guilty.

According to a spokesman for the Justice Ministry, the Bill would be published in the Government Gazette in the coming days.

The government is in the process of introducing regulations for bouncers and security officers employed in bars and night clubs. The draft was modelled on the UK's Private Security Industry Act. The plan is to set up a security authority similar to Britain's Security Industry Authority.

Sunday's incident comes less than a year after Sudanese illegal immigrant Suleiman Abubaker died from a blow to the head. Duncan Deguara, a 29-year-old bouncer at Footloose Bar in Paceville, was charged with grievously injuring Mr Abubaker.

Soon after Mr Abubaker's death, representatives from the Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU met Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici to suggest regulations for nightclub security staff.