Bars and bistros in North Down are being targeted by loyalist paramilitaries offering door staff services starting at £1,000 a week.

Several businesses who employ staff to vet clients as they arrive and care for customers inside the establishments, have been approached in recent months with the offer.

Businesses in Bangor , Holywood and others on the Ards Peninsula , have been approached and the offered a deal starting at £1,000 a week with a guarantee the news service would entice a substantial increase in customers.

One source said: “We approached and told we could get rid of our own door staff and replace them with their bouncers and I was told that we could expect to see a vast increase in footfall into the bar.

“I was told to expect about 60% increase of clientele and that the weekly fee would start at £1,000.

“My first concern was why we had been approached, and how I would politely tell this person that we were not interested in getting into an agreement with their staff or in fact their customers.

“There is no way we could afford anything like £1,000 a week. It was shocking. Our door staff are trained, insured and are also first aiders and they handle their jobs with a friendly and professional attitude. They handle everyone fairly and with respect and they certainly don’t cost £1,000 a week.

“It’s hard to know what to do in a situation like this. On the one hand you’re afraid to offend the person making the offer and on the other hand you just can’t afford to get involved with these people given their background.

“I don’t know what their door staff would be like but I know we’re happy with the ones we have and I know they're decent men who are above board with no paramilitary links.

“The concern amongst other businessmen like myself if that while we don’t want a fight or any trouble, we cannot bend to these people and in an official capacity support their groupings.

“We also feel that the clients they may attract to the establishments would be likely to prevent our regular clients from coming back to us, and if business faltered then we know who would be the first to step in and buy us out.

“It’s hard to stand up to these people but we have to. We are meant to be living in a civilised society and there’s no place for paramilitary bouncers at the doors of decent businesses in North Down or anywhere else.”

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