Legal entitlement of SIA door supervisors to handle IDs
Published 17 September 2024
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Request
Are SIA door supervisors legally allowed to touch or handle someone’s ID?
Response
Holding a valid door supervisor licence gives no additional legal powers to that of a private citizen. There is no legal power to seize an identification document (ID).
However, a condition of entry into the majority of night-time economy venues is the presentation of ID by the customer. This is to satisfy the venue that the customer is of a certain age (such as over 18) to, for example, drink alcohol at a licensed premises. In these circumstances, it may be reasonable for a door supervisor to inspect the customer’s ID with their permission. If permission is not granted, then it may be that entry into that venue is refused.
[Ref: FOI 0526]