Tighten rules for bouncers, says sister of man killed after being ejected from bar

A plea is being made to strengthen safeguards over security staff at entertainment venues after the death of a much-loved brother and son.

Jamie Kelly was seriously hurt following an altercation with doormen outside a bar in Doncaster in May 2022.

He died in hospital from asphyxiation due to injuries suffered when he was being restrained by three security staff.

The three all pleaded guilty to manslaughter by gross negligence and were jailed in June.

Now his sister is calling for tighter regulations on door staff including improved restraint training to prevent deaths or serious injuries.

She also wants compulsory wearing of bodycams by all accredited staff approved by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to record incidents if they occur.

Hundreds of people have already signed a petition backing the changes on the UK Parliament website.

It says the measures would improve safety amid concerns “the current standards of training mean that excessive force is sometimes used, which in some cases have led to deaths”.

His sister Louise Allen said more action was needed to train staff to de-escalate situations and restrain people properly.

She said she was in talks with staff at Doncaster City Council to look at improved security training locally but wanted changes nationally.

“He’s a massive loss to us and nothing is ever going to bring him back, but we want to do something to prevent another family going through this,” she said

“What I saw at the trial was all three of the defendants saying the training was a bit of a tick box exercise. It needs to be improved.”

She said all door staff needed to wear bodycams to record incidents.

“Some bouncers do wear them, but some don’t,” she said.

Without the footage, it had taken years to piece together the evidence in her brother’s case including interviewing drinkers who saw what had happened and examining CCTV footage.

Mr Kelly, 30, of Rawdon, Leeds, was on a night out to celebrate the birth of a friend’s baby when he became involved in a dispute involving the three doormen. He was wrestled to the ground and significant pressure was applied to him for around three minutes.

The court was told all three were authorised by the SIA and had been given training around physical interventions, but this was as far back as 2013.

Their actions were described by the sentencing judge as “a grotesque response…out of all proportion”.

Following the sentencing, his family described Mr Kelly as “our rockstar”.

He had just finished studying for a music production degree and was looking forward to a new chapter in his life.

In a tribute, they said: “Jamie had a huge personality. He was full of life and fun. The atmosphere in any room he walked into would immediately change because of his positive energy, charm, and fantastic sense of humour.

“On the night that he died, Jamie was just doing what so many of us have done before. He was out with his friends to celebrate a major milestone in one of their lives. He was just having a good time.

“His death has changed us as a family forever and the awful events of four years ago will never leave us.”