From today (Friday), pub landlords can be jailed if they employ unlicensed door staff.

Door supervisors could also go from being outside bars to being behind them if they breach the new laws, though a backlog in processing applications means some could escape with a warning until September.

Hampshire is piloting a scheme where door staff must be licensed by the Security Industry Authority. It is due to be extended nationally a year.

Police, council licensing staff and SIA officers will conduct spot checks on door supervisors. Staff operating without a licence, and their employers, could be jailed for up to five years and face a limitless fine.

Police also have powers to close venues if they are legally bound to provide licensed door staff, but are not doing so.

The SIA, a government agency, warned last month that a lack of qualified door staff could force bars to close. It issued 1,400 license applications in Hampshire, but only 300 were returned before May 7th. After that date, the SIA could not guarantee to issue licenses in time for today's deadline.

SIA deputy chief executive, Andy Drane, insisted there could be no leniency. "There will be no grace period; the law doesn't work like that. Once the date has been set by the secretary of state, it is in force and it cannot be ignored."

Yet the authority and Hampshire Constabulary revealed yesterday that they were temporarily softening their stance. It takes the SIA around four weeks to issue a licence after an application is submitted.

A police representative said any unlicensed staff who could prove they had applied would be treated as a special case. "If they've got a letter proving they've sent their application, then we will exercise discretion in these cases until September 4th," she said.

A spokesman for the SIA said the decision was taken to ensure pubs and clubs did not close through a lack of door staff.

Sean McCarthy is co-director of The Big Security Company Ltd, which provides door supervisors at several Winchester venues, including Greens wine bar, the Slug and Lettuce and The Old Gaolhouse.

He welcomes the three-month relaxation of the regulations, having previously raised concerns that his personnel might not receive their licences in time, despite satisfying the May 7th deadline.

"They've done their training, they've got clearance from the police, and made their application - what more do they need?

To get a licence, staff must attend a training course lasting up to four days, and costing around £250. They are taught first aid skills, how to liaise with police, evacuate a venue and diffuse violent situations.