Speaking with The Malta Independent on Sunday, together with Police Constable Vincent Mifsud, who is responsible for issuing licences, he added that it is unfair that all bouncers are tarred with the same brush by the public.

In the light of the findings of a recent magisterial inquiry ordered after an incident at a Paceville club, many have began to question the regulations governing bouncers at entertainment establishments.

On the night of the incident, a crush led to the collapse of a glass banister, which resulted in 74 people being injured. It transpired that an unlicensed Serbian bouncer, Bojam Spasic, was employed by the security company of Stephen Ciangura. Mr Ciangura (photo below) is a serving member of the AFM who has been seconded as a personal chauffer to MCST chairman Jeffery Pullicino Orlando, and was never granted approval to perform any private work.

It was found that the Serbian bouncer was unable to communicate in neither English nor Maltese, and was therefore unable to facilitate the smooth exit of people from the club, or communicate with other staff.

Unable to comment on the specifics of the case due to the magisterial inquiry, Assistant Commissioner Magri instead spoke about the general procedure to obtain a bouncer's licence, and his personal views as to how the situation could be helped. The police are responsible for granting bouncer licences, as well as personal guard and escort licences.

 

Searching for dangerous objects

This newsroom asked AC Magri whether the practice of searching people for dangerous objects before entering a nightclub could be reinforced, especially since the Paceville incident was allegedly set off by a teenager spraying some type of noxious gas into the club's ventilation system.

"Personally, I completely agree with people being searched when entering these establishments. Clients have a right to know that if they are going into one of these clubs, the owner has the right to search people. At the end of the day, owners of these establishments do not want any trouble.

"Once a person has paid to go inside, or has entered the establishment, they must know that staff has a right to search them. I am saying this because it is within the police's power to search people they have reason to be suspicious of, but bouncers are more restricted. Clients should know that bouncers and staff have a right to search for dangerous items when inside the club; they should not 'claim that bouncers do not have the right to search them'.

"If clients do not have a problem with being searched, they can enter, however if they object, they can go someplace else.

Bouncers and Police

Many claim that bouncers and police in Paceville stay out of each other's way, sometimes to the detriment of patrons.

Asked about this, AC Magri said that bouncers and police communicate and liaise with each other all the time, helping each other to improve the service.

"Communication between bouncers and the police is very good. If for example, a bouncer sees some people inside the club that are being drunk and rowdy, they contact the police and tell them that they are asking the people to leave the club. It is then up to the police to ensure that those people do not disturb the peace.

"Personally, if I was stationed in Paceville, and I see that an incident is going to take place, I would instinctively do what I can to prevent the situation. I would not leave it up to the bouncers to deal with it. The police on duty work in the same way; once they see an incident is about to boil over, they take immediate action.

"We want more communication to take place, it helps both the bouncers and the police to do their job better."

PC Mifsud added that bouncers have certain limits as to what they can do.

"They cannot arrest people, they can hold them until the police arrive. There are very clear guidelines on what powers bouncers have, which can be found in Chapter 389. The limits imposed on bouncers make it necessary for communicating with the police," PC Mifsud said.

 

Criteria needed to become a bouncer

Asked whether Assistant Commissioner Magri feels that the criteria need to be changed in order to be a licensed bouncer, he explained: "Primarily, to change these conditions the law needs to be amended. If amendments are drawn up that require stronger criteria, I agree with this. This would improve the service being offered, and make Paceville a safer place.

"I think the approach taken by certain bouncers towards people does not help the situation. It is the wrong approach, since you are dealing with people who are drinking. The likelihood is that an unorthodox approach would not be taken well. It is important to have people trained for these situations.

"I do not agree with the perception that all bouncers are savages. There are bouncers who have problems, and like in any department or entity, you will find the good and the bad. Although it is important to educate bouncers, the same can be said about educating people on how to approach bouncers. Just because some will be in a certain state and having fun does not give them the right to harass and annoy those around them. This is how incidents unfold.

"I think that most of the time, aggression is displayed by both bouncers and the people approaching them. It comes from both sides."

Commenting on the number of foreign bouncers in Malta, Mr Magri said that there is no problem with it, as long as they are in line with the law.

Asked whether language barriers could pose a problem, as was the case of the Paceville incident, both PC Mifsud and AC Magri said that the applications they have to fill out are in English, therefore a certain level of proficiency is required. They both said that there are no language requirements in the criteria laid out to become a bouncer.

PC Mifsud explained the procedure followed to obtain a licence.

"With regard to private guards, there are four types of licences. All those applying for a licence to become a bouncer must, first and foremost, have a normal guard licence. This is granted by the police themselves, so long as the stipulated procedures have been respected. Once they get this licence, they have to work for five years as a private guard for an agency licensed with the Police Commission before they can get their bouncer licence."

He added that they are required to work for an agency, and not as self-employed due to a regulation requiring them to be covered by insurance.