A bouncer in Cardiff has had their license suspended following an incident outside a bar in the city. The altercation, which took place outside Boom Battle Bar in the Brewery Quarter, was caught on camera and showed four doormen restraining a young man. Two of the security workers were seen punching the customer during the early hours of Sunday, September 29.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) spokesperson stated that their priority is to protect the public. Upon being informed about the incident involving a licensee at a venue in Cardiff, they took action to suspend their SIA license. The spokesperson refrained from commenting on any potential further decisions. It was revealed that the police are investigating a complaint that the customer had assaulted one of the doormen, though this incident was not captured in the video. Additionally, the customer lodged a complaint alleging that he was assaulted, but he later withdrew his support for prosecution, leading to no action being taken by the police.
After the incident, two security workers seen in the video landing blows on the customer no longer provide their services at Boom Battle Bar. The SIA suspended the license of one of the doormen involved on October 16. The SIA licensing is necessary for working in contracted security, with door supervision being an exception requiring an SIA license. The suspension of a license is based on concerns regarding the individual’s fitness to hold a license and the potential threat to public safety.
Footage from the incident outside Boom Battle Bar showed the customer with blood in his mouth after being punched. A spokesperson from Cautela Diamond, the security company employing the doormen, claimed that the blood resulted from the customer falling after trespassing into a restricted area on the property. The spokesperson alleged that the customer had shown aggression and hostility towards the security team before the incident captured on video.
The police confirmed that they are investigating the assault on a man in his 50s following a complaint made on October 11 related to the incident on September 29. A police spokesperson mentioned that the investigation is ongoing. The Cautela Diamond spokesperson defended the actions of the security team, stating that the customer had assaulted them in an unprovoked attack after being repeatedly denied entry due to his disruptive behavior.
Boom Battle Bar expressed their commitment to safety and stated that they have policies in place to prevent entry to individuals who may pose a risk. They cooperated with the police investigation by sharing CCTV and bodycam footage. WalesOnline’s attempts to reach the customer for comment have been unsuccessful.
In light of the incident and subsequent investigations, the implications for both the doormen and the customer remain under scrutiny. The concerns raised about the use of force and the ongoing police investigations underscore the need for accountability and adherence to safety protocols within the security industry.