Bouncers have been arrested over almost 100 violent and sexual crimes in Manchester city centre in the past three years, the M.E.N can reveal.

Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows Greater Manchester Police recorded 524 crimes between 2015-18 in the Greater Manchester region where the suspect's job title was listed as either ‘door staff’ or ‘security guard’.

It is not mandatory for Greater Manchester Police to say whether the suspect's occupation as a bouncer is relevant to the crime.

However, in many cases it is likely it was because of the location of the offence.

For example, the FOI revealed that four bouncers were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over an incident in the area around Spinningfields, Peter Street and Albert Square.

And in Radcliffe, Bury, a bouncer was accused of raping a woman in a nightclub.

It is not known if any charges followed.

The council's city centre spokesperson Pat Karney said he was 'disturbed' by the figures and would be making enquiries to find out more about the manslaughter case.

Separate figures requested by the M.E.N show bouncers were also the victim in thousands of violent attacks during the same period.

They frequently suffered injuries including cuts, bruising, or a bloody nose.

But others were more serious such as stab wounds, a fractured cheekbone, teeth missing and hair pulled out.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the organisation responsible for regulating bouncers, said the 'vast majority do a good job, often in challenging circumstances'.

Factory nightclub incident sparks 'reverberations nationally'

The M.E.N requested the figures surrounding violence involving bouncers in the wake of shocking footage from outside Factory 251 nightclub last month.

It showed a number of doormen throwing punches at two teenagers who ended up in hospital.

(Image: Facebook)

Rugby star Joe Sharratt, 18, was reportedly knocked unconscious while his friend Leon Cooper, also 18, was repeatedly punched outside the Princess Street venue in the early hours of Sunday, December 2.

Police launched an investigation and Factory was temporarily stripped of its licence by the council.

Seven men were arrested on suspicion of section 47 assault and violent disorder and bailed pending further enquiries.

Factory announced it had parted company with its third party security contractor in the wake of the incident.

The contractor in turn confirmed eight bouncers had been sacked.

Following a council licensing hearing, Factory was allowed to reopen on January 18 subject to a string of conditions, many of them related to door supervisors.

They included a requirement for door staff to wear 'high visibility uniform', use body worn cameras, a 'bespoke' supervisor policy for the premises and a requirement of at least one supervisor to every 75 customers.

Paddy Whur, a lawyer representing Factory at the hearing, said at the time the incident has had 'huge reverberations nationally' for the door security industry.

The Security Industry Authority described the Factory incident as "disgraceful and damaging to the good name and reputation of door supervisors and the security industry."

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The agency issued fresh guidance for door staff on 'safer physical intervention' and said it was continuing to work with GMP, the security provider, and the venue to investigate the incident.

However, councillor Pat Karney said he would meet with the SIA and police to discuss the issue of door staff violence further in the wake of the M.E.N's figures.

"Everyone in Manchester was shocked by what we saw at Factory nightclub," he said.

"I'm very disturbed by the M.E.N's investigation.

"It's a difficult job and there are lots of very professional door people around.

"But we expect the best professional standards, especially when they are dealing with inebriated young people.

"The council will meet with the SIA and the police to go through the M.E.N's important investigation."

City centre violence

In 2016-17, four bouncers were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over an incident that occurred in the city centre police beat known as 'Courts'.

This refers to the area that includes Spinningfields, Albert's Square and Peter Street.

The data does not specify on which street the incident happened and it is not known if any charges followed.

In the same area, bouncers were allegedly involved in the sexual assault of a women and nine violent attacks.

(Image: Mark Waugh)

In the Gay Village, they were detained in connection with fourteen violent incidents, including two flagged by police as 'sexual orientation hate crimes'.

The M.E.N reported how bouncer Amir Naghdlou, 30, was spared jail for attacking a reveller in July 2017 because he and his friends were leaving slowly at closing time.

He was acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm but convicted of common assault following a trial.

The judge handed him a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work and conceded that 'in all probability' Naghdlou would return to being a bouncer in the future.

In the Northern Quarter, nine bouncers were arrested in a single incident at a cafe on suspicion of assault.

In another, a bouncer was arrested over an alleged assault flagged as a 'race hate crime' at a Northern Quarter nightclub.

(Image: Joel Goodman)

Eight crimes were recorded at bars, clubs and restaurants in the St Ann's area, and eleven in the area around the Arndale and King Street.

All were violent - from 'common assault' which can result in six months' imprisonment, to 'wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm' which can see someone locked up for five years.

Five bouncers were arrested over alleged attacks in Chinatown, while in Piccadilly Gardens one was accused of sexually assaulting a woman outside a shop.

Bars, clubs and supermarkets

A total of 36 bouncers were arrested by GMP following incidents at nightclubs across the region between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2018.

They include one arrested on suspicion of raping a woman at a venue in Radcliffe, Bury.

Two were accused of sexually assaulting women, one at a club in Stockport town centre and another at a club in the city centre.

Three attacks allegedly involving door staff were reported in Bolton nightclubs, four in Wigan, two in Bury and three in Oldham.

There were 28 door staff arrested for alleged violence in pubs and bars.

Most were in Manchester city centre but others happened in, Ashton-under-Lyne, Cheadle, Bolton, Farnworth, Sale, Rochdale and Bury.

A sexual assault on a woman was reported at a bar in Fallowfield.

Shops or retail parks were also a common location for reports of crimes involving security staff.

There were 21 reports across Greater Manchester on charges including assault, wounding and sexual assault of a woman.

The FOI also revealed a handful of arrests involving security staff at other locations where they are likely to work.

For example, in 2016-17 a security guard was arrested on suspicion of assault at Manchester Airport.

And in the same year one was arrested over an alleged assault at a leisure centre in Hale Barns.

An assault was also reportedly carried out by a security guard at an amusement arcade in Piccadilly Gardens.

Other crimes were reported at hospitals, hotels, the universities, takeaways and even a play centre in Wigan.

'The vast majority do a good job'

(Image: MEN MEDIA)

The Security Industry Authority issued the following press release following the Factory nightclub incident:

"Thousands of door supervisors are deployed each weekend across UK towns and cities.

"The vast majority do a good job, often in challenging circumstances.

"The violent conduct in the Manchester incident was disgraceful and damaging to the good name and reputation of door supervisors and the security industry.

"We continue to work closely with Greater Manchester Police, the security provider, and the venue to investigate the incident.

"Our investigators were out on the streets with Greater Manchester Police following the incident to ensure Manchester clubs were safe from unprofessional and criminal conduct.

"Our key aims are to raise standards and protect the public. Most weekends, our investigators accompany police officers visiting pubs and clubs.

"They engage with door staff to ensure that they are correctly licensed and operating professionally.

"We have produced a short guide for safer physical intervention for door supervisors, which is a reminder as to when you should use physical intervention – always as a last resort - and the responsibilities a door supervisor has when physically intervening. Download this guidance from our website.

"If you any have information relating to violent incidents relating to SIA Licence holders we want to know about it. Please report it via our website or anonymously by phone calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

'We will consider taking action against any licence holders where there is evidence that they are no longer fit and proper to hold a licence'

The Security Industry Authority have been show the M.E.N's figures.

Responding, a spokesman said: "To obtain a front line Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence, individuals have to pass checks on their identity, right to work in the UK, and criminal record.

(Image: PA)

"They are also required to have successfully completed a government-recognised qualification specified by us. The SIA conducts a criminal records check every time there is a licence application, including licence renewals.

"A criminal record will not necessarily preclude someone from holding an SIA licence. The SIA offers applicants an online criminal record indicator which provides a 'no cost' way of determining whether or not an applicant will pass our criminality criteria."

The statement added: "Our key aims are to raise standards in the private security industry and protect the public. Our investigators and enforcement partners across the UK regularly visit pubs and clubs.

"They engage with door staff to ensure that they are correctly licensed and operating professionally. Door supervisors are trained on physical intervention and required standards of behaviour, which include behaving with personal integrity and understanding, as well as never abusing their position of authority.

"Thousands of door supervisors are deployed each weekend across UK towns and cities. The vast majority do a good job, often in challenging circumstances and fulfil their role with bravery and in the face of significant provocation.

"We will consider taking action against any licence holders where there is evidence that they are no longer fit and proper to hold a licence or that fail to follow their training, including revoking or suspending their licence.

"If there is any information relating to violent incidents or inappropriate behaviour relating to SIA licence holders the SIA wants to know about it. Reporting the incident via our website http://bit.ly/1RmG41S or anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."