Thousands Of British Bouncers Face The Chop

Up to 72,000 club and pub door staff could face up to six months in jail if they continue working from Monday (April 11) after failing to register for new licences, which become compulsory in the UK next week.

The licensing scheme is designed to weed out bouncers with criminal convictions though door supervisor union chief Andy Walker told the Big Issue this week that the new legislation could leave "the vast majority' of clubs without security.'

Such a scheme could have a profound impact on club staff in Miami, America, where numerous British delegates attending the recent Winter Music conference returned with tales of being brutally assaulted by bouncers, including senior Mixmag writer Gavin Herlihy. Gavin subsequently dropped the matter after receiving an abject apology from the management of the high profile club he was attacked at, though told Skrufff the incident reflected the vibe of the entire event.

"Every club I went to seemed to be staffed by rude and aggressive security. The complete lack of respect for customers, especially Europeans there for the conference, made me wonder why the industry bothers with Miami in the first place," he complained.

"The clubs themselves are overpriced and the staff that work in them arrogant and disrespectful and most of the people that go to the South Beach superclubs are vacuous Americans with more money/silicone/steroids than sense," he continued.

"Music seems to come second best to hiring tables and showing off how much money they have and if I were to advise someone interested in going I'd say save your money and go to Ibiza," he recommended.

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