The hospitality sector has been told by a judge it needs to "have a look at itself" because of violence involving bouncers - but security representatives say they should be given stronger powers to deal with unruly patrons.
Judge Michael Crosbie raised concerns last week when he sentenced a manager and bouncer at Christchurch strip club, The Dolls' House, for an "outrageously vicious" assault on a 19-year-old on the premises.
The man responsible, Stephen Mark Kincaid (31), was jailed for 18 months for the attack which left the teenager with a fractured skull and blind in one eye.
Kincaid was working in the "hospitality security" industry despite two earlier convictions for assault.
"This is an industry that needs to continue to have a look at itself in terms of the background of those who come to work in it," Judge Crosbie said.
The Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill, expected to come into law next year, will require workers such as bouncers to be registered and trained.
But Security Officers Association acting president Bryce Winstone believed there needed to be a change to the Summary Offences Act to make it legal for bouncers and security guards to at least detain and hold people until a police officer arrived.
Crimes Act legislation allowed anyone to detain another person in certain circumstances - until a police officer arrived - and security staff had to try to do their jobs within the law, Mr Winstone said.
But that could make it difficult for occupations such as bouncers to do their jobs properly.
"I completely understand where bouncers get stressed and thump somebody.
The law says only the police can deal with the problem, and of course the police aren't there."
Mr Winstone, a Tauranga security guard, said security staff having powers of arrest "totally changes the degree of force that can be used".
"If you are not making an arrest, basically you are picking a fight with that person and that's where things get rapidly out of hand."
The new law would not extend the powers of security staff, which Mr Winstone said would put bouncers in a position "where they have to do something to maintain order, but the law is not on their side".
"Until they fix that, you'll just continue to have the same problems."
Hospitality Association of New Zealand chief Bruce Roberston was lukewarm on Mr Winstone's suggestions, preferring the new law be given a chance to work before bouncers' powers were extended.
Mr Robertson said the new law should provide adequate training that would ensure bouncers "know what their limitations are and how far they can go".
Any plans to widen bouncers' powers of arrest and detainment were "something that could be looked at in the future".
A spokesman for Justice Minister Simon Power said there was no official comment to be made on the Security Officers Association's suggestions as they had been presented to the select committee hearing the Bill.
The submission had been rejected at select committee level, the spokesman said
Bouncer bashings
May 28: Bouncer Stephen Kincaid receives 18-month prison sentence for bashing a Christchurch strip club patron last July. The attack left his victim with a fractured skull and blind in one eye.
Nov 2009: A Napier bouncer pleads guilty and is fined $400 after assaulting a DJ at a bar in the city.
Mar 2008: A Tauranga bouncer is sentenced to six months' home detention after admitting one charge of male assaults female and one of assault with intent to use a weapon after attacking his partner during an argument.
July 2005: Cedric George Joyce dies after being restrained outside a Blenheim bar. Two bouncers are charged with manslaughter but acquitted after a High Court trial.
