Information & Support for Door Supervisors - National Doorwatch

National Doorwatch invited to put their point across at the Citizen Card fringe meeting on ID.

National Doorwatch on the fringe of ID Debate at Conservative Party Conference.

National Doorwatch, were invited to the Citizen Card fringe meeting on ID, at the Conservative Party conference by Kate Winstanley of PASS. Kate gave a very impassioned talk about the benefits of the PASS logo, along with other speakers who contributed on the overall benefit of Citizen Card.  The debate warmed up when the Trading Standards speaker from Birmingham Council spoke.  In all fairness they do seem to be taking a more reasoned approach to dealing with the issue of under-age purchases, however it is still clear they are taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. 

The debate really sparked into life with a question to the panel regarding the punishment for the fraudulant use of ID.  Tamlyn Thompson, of Idscan Biometrics, pointed out that as far as he was aware there had only been 3 prosecutions brought against young people.  The panelist representing the Tobacco Industry, informed the meeting that sending a "stiff letter" to the parent/s of said youngster seemed to be working well. 

At this point National Doorwatch explained to the panel and the audience the difficulties Door Supervisors face on nightly basis.  Firstly there are too many ID cards and it is difficult to distinguish between them, when working at a busy venue in the dark.  Secondly, the level of accuracy expected of Door Supervisors runs to 1000ths of a percent.  A level of tolerance which would be regarded as unrealistic in any other quality assurance process.  Finally the venue doesn't get a "stiff letter", they get an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice at the very least.  People, can and have lost their jobs.  In some cases venues have been forced to close, with the loss of jobs.  All this vital money lost to the employees, the employers, and the various revenue agencies.,

National Doorwatch doesn't want to see the criminalisation of young people.  Afterall these young people are only doing what virtually every young person has done since the beginning of time.  They are pushing at the barriers, desperate to experience everything life has to offer, before their life is offically over at 18?  However at some point young people have to be made aware of their responsibilities, to others and themselves.  They also have to be prepared to accept the consequenses of their actions.

Therefore, National Doorwatch wants to see £80 Fixed Penalty Notices, similar in effect to speeding fines, for those young persons and their parent/s, who are found to be using fraudulent ID.  National Doorwatch do not want to see these converted to cautions, or criminal charges, unless acts of violence and abuse are involved.