Police have reported eight people after a crackdown on unlicensed door staff in Bradford city centre.

Officers toured pubs, clubs and bars at the weekend to make enforcement checks after new regulations were introduced at the end of last year.

It is now an offence to work as a doorman anywhere in Bradford without a licence from the Security Industry Authority.

To qualify for a licence, staff have to undertake a four-day course to train in conflict management, drug awareness, licensing issues, fire safety and dealing with emergencies.

They must pay a £190 fee to be licensed for three years and are given an SIA badge which they have to display while working.

Annaliese Oldham, project co-ordinator for Bradford South Police's licensing department, said 36 door staff had been checked at venues across the city centre and eight were found to be unregistered.

They were reported on summons and released, but will be interviewed under caution at a later date. Police will then discuss with the Crown Prosecution Service whether individuals should be prosecuted.

In the meantime the eight people will not be allowed to work as door staff.

The scheme was introduced by the Government to rid the industry of its "thuggish" image. Door staff applicants undergo identity and criminal background checks.

Anyone who works without a licence is liable to a maximum £5,000 fine and/or six months in prison.

The scheme is similar to one which had been run by the police, Bradford Council and Bradford Inner City Licensees' Association for several years.

Mrs Oldham said: "The regulations came into force on December 13 but applicants were granted a further two months to register because of delays within the SIA system. That has now passed and anyone who is unlicensed cannot work unless there are exceptional circumstances.

"We have always had a professional set-up in Bradford and we want that to continue. I am here to support door staff. But the message we need to get across is 'no SIA badge, no work.'"

Mick Chippindale, licensing inspector for Bradford South, said he was disappointed a number of unregistered door staff had been found.

"The pleasing thing is that there wasn't a single venue where all the door staff were unlicensed. It was just the odd individual," he said.

"But we will take action if we find people who have not registered."