SECURITY teams in Swansea are checked, according to the industry's standards watchdog.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is responsible for handing out personal licenses to anyone who works in the security industry, including nightclub doormen.

The authority's response comes after a judge in Swansea accused some of the city's doormen of "thuggery" while sentencing an off-duty doorman for assaulting two men who were being ejected from Play nightclub in Wind Street by bouncers.

He was at the club socialising, but as an off-duty doorman he waded in to "help" a bouncer pal and two other door staff.

David Govier, aged 25, of Dan y Graig Road, Port Tennant, was sentenced to a 48-week and concurrent 32-week prison term suspended for 18-months, as well as paying one victim £750 compensation for his broken jaw and the other £250. He has to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and pay costs of £1,200.

He had waded into help the doorstaff, but after watching CCTV footage of the incident, his honour Judge Peter Haywood said: "I think the police ought to make inquiries about the identification of the other doormen, having seen this.

"There is far too much of this type of thuggery up and down the city and in the Wind Street part of Swansea.

"I appreciate the door staff have a difficult job to do, but I wonder if sometimes they behave improperly."

The incident happened in April last year and the door staff involved have since left the nightclub.

And Govier's SIA badge — which he has to have in order to work in the security sector — was revoked in October last year, shortly after he appeared at Swansea Magistrates' Court over the incident. An SIA spokeswoman said: "Door supervisors must by law hold a valid SIA licence. They must gain a relevant qualification and pass criminality and identity checks before that licence is issued, then must adhere to its conditions.

"If there is evidence a licence holder no longer meets licensing criteria, has broken licence conditions, or is not a fit and proper person for the role, the SIA has the power to suspend or revoke their licence, or refuse its renewal.''

emma.judd@swwmedia.co.uk