Source: Ely Weekly News
Doormen who stepped in to stop a horrific street stabbing are set to receive a police commendation for their bravery.
Bouncers at the Town House pub, in Market Street, Ely, stepped in to help after the violence flared in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Three men were stabbed in the incident, which happened at 1.24am, but police say the doormen’s courageous intervention prevented further injuries.
Inspector Andy Bartlett, from Ely police station, said: “If it were not for the door staff, I have no doubt there would have been another stabbing.
“The incident had nothing to do with the pub, but their staff and one of their patrons acted with bravery and courage to stop another person from being stabbed.
“I will be calling for a commendation for their brave actions during this incident.”
Two 17-year-olds from Ely were arrested on suspicion of assault. They have been released on bail and will return to Ely police station for further questioning on September 8.
A total of four men were injured in the attack. Three were taken to Addenbrooke’s hospital and the other was treated at the scene.
Source: SIA
Following the informal consultation on whether a single generic SIA licence should be introduced, the SIA will not be developing a non sector-specific licence.
Overall, feedback from the industry showed that while there was some interest in a more integrated approach, the option for a single generic licence card did not receive widespread support.
At present, SIA licence cards are specific to each sector. Operatives working in more than one sector may need to be issued with multiple licences.
The two options set out in the consultation were:
to introduce a single generic licence card covering all of the licensable activities that the holder is qualified to undertake; or to continue to issue sector-specific and multiple licences. SIA Director of Strategy and Corporate Services, Hazel Russell said:
"I would like to thank respondents for their contributions to this informal consultation. The responses did not provide clear support for the development of a non-sector specific licence, so at present we will not be making changes to the licences that we issue.
However, we will now reconsider how we have defined the 'manned guarding' sectors and we will take account of the consultation responses in identifying opportunities for limiting the requirement for multiple licences and for reducing administrative burdens. This, combined with our ongoing customer service improvements will help to ensure that any future changes will continue to be stakeholder-led."
Source: Southampton Daily Echo
A gunman terrified a doorman and a woman he was trying to chat up in a Southampton nightclub.
High on drink and drugs, Karl Powell threatened to use the weapon he had tucked into the waistband of his trousers.
The drama began when the would-be chef saw Philippa Griffith on the dance floor of Junk nightclub in London Road and putting her hand on the waistband, told her: “If anyone talks to you, I’ll shoot them and shoot your face off.”
Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley told the city crown court she was absolutely terrifed when she realised he was armed and went with him to the bar when he bought her a drink.
However, she managed to whisper a message to a friend and doorman Jason Harris came up behind, put his arms around his middle and realised he had a gun.
During a struggle, Powell turned and threatened him: “If you don’t let go, I’ll shoot you.”
The bouncer feared “this was it” and believed he was going to be shot. When a friend of Powell’s intervented, the doorman managed to pull the gun from his waistband. He was ejected from the premises and arrested by police.
The gun transpired to be a gaspropelled BB gun.
Powell, 27 admitted two counts of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and was jailed for four years.
Hearing he had two previous convictions for similar offences, Judge Hooton commented: “You have a fondness for frightening people with a gun. It wasn’t loaded but people around you in the bar thought it was a real gun and the girl was terrified.”
Matthew Jewell, defending, said Powell had been drinking and taken cocaine and could not remember what had happened.
“But he was brave enough to accept the evidence of others.
“He had removed the gun from someone else in his company earlier that evening. It must have been the worst and most misguided attempt to chat up a girl imaginable.
“The gun was never removed from his waistband and was in a plastic bag. It didn’t have any pellets or any gas in the canister, though he can now understand the fear people would have felt.”
Source: SIA
More than 200 security guards and door supervisors were inspected during a large-scale operation in Leeds, Bristol and Kingston upon Thames on Thursday 1st July.
Operation Spectrum was conducted by Security Industry Authority investigators and saw teams deployed to 89 security sites including retail parks, shopping centres and their CCTV suites, pubs, clubs, businesses and trading parks.
The aim of the operation was to test compliance amongst those working in the private security industry.
In total, 202 individuals were inspected. SIA investigators found 199 operatives working legally by holding and displaying valid SIA licences.
In Bristol, 40 sites were checked with 95 security staff inspected – no offences were found. Licence checks were also made from sign-in sheets and staff lists with no issues detected.
In Leeds, 29 sites were visited and 62 security personnel were checked. Two security guards were found not to be displaying their SIA licences – a breach of licence conditions.
In Kingston upon Thames, 20 sites were visited and 45 individuals were inspected. One offence was detected as a security guard who was undertaking public space surveillance (CCTV) activity did not hold a licence for this sector.
In each of the targeted areas, SIA investigators identified either a venue or business that will require follow up enquiries.
Director of Compliance and Enforcement Dave Humphries said:
"The results of this operation are excellent, in that we found more than 98% compliance with the law. It is clear that awareness of the requirements is high and that the vast majority of people understand the need to be licensed before performing private security activities.
Operations like this help us gather information to take an intelligence-led approach to enforcement. They can also help to act as a deterrent against future non-compliance of individuals and security providers working in the targeted areas.
We urge those working in these positions of trust to adhere to the law by holding and displaying the correct licence for the role they are carrying out. In our aim of protecting the public, we expect compliance with licensing requirements at all times. We will be conducting similar operations in the future."
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post
Pub and club doormen acting as paid street marshals will be out with police patrolling Leeds tonight to help cut violence.
In a pioneering weekend scheme for the city centre, the doorstaff will join teams of regular constables, special constables and community support officers to patrol the streets.
Leeds is the first city where licensed premises are funding the scheme themselves and not the police or their partners.
Operation Capital was launched with three briefings of the Street Marshalls, NPT officers, special constables and an officer from British Transport Police at areas of the city known for being particularly busy.
The marshals, in yellow high-visibility bibs, include at least one PC, two special constables and two PCSOs.
Chief Insp Vernon Francis, who devised the scheme, said he and officers
from the Leeds District Licensing Department had worked closely with licensed premises for five months to secure the Street Marshalls launch.
"Keeping people safe in our city is an absolute priority and I am extremely proud to demonstrate the clear commitment of Neighbourhood Policing Team officers and our licensees to achieving this," he said.
Jim Willson, Safer Leeds Chief Officer for Drugs and Alcohol, said: "This is an excellent development. It reflects the good working relationship between the bars in Leeds, the police and the council."
Source: BBC News
Private security firms like those operating in Iraq and Afghanistan could soon be in use in Northern Ireland.
They could be guarding police stations and providing protection for politicians, judges and other possible terrorist targets in NI.
The Northern Ireland Chief Constable, Matt Baggott, is to ask the Policing Board to endorse the plan on Thursday.
Police say the plan will save money and free up more officers for fighting crime.
Hundreds of former police officers and soldiers from Northern Ireland have been employed by private security firms in Iraq and Afghanistan, protecting individuals and buildings believed to be at risk of terrorist attack.
Some of them may soon find work closer to home.
The risks won't be anything like those they've encountered in those battlefields, and the pay is likely to be much less, but they could soon have the opportunity to apply some of their skills in Northern Ireland.
Mr Baggott has made it clear that getting more officers out on to the streets and into frontline policing roles is one of his key priorities, and he sees this as part of that process.
About 400 PSNI officers are currently involved in providing protection for politicians, judges and other potential terrorist targets, and guarding police stations.
The police say that is not cost effective.
They argue that it would save money, and give them greater flexibility, if those jobs were performed by suitability trained civilian staff, as that would result in more officers being available for frontline duties.
Bodyguards
Private security firms would be asked to provide trained bodyguards and other staff when needed, rather than having full-time police officers doing the jobs.
The chief constable will outline his plans to the Policing Board on Thursday and ask for its endorsement.
That backing is essential because the move would require new legislation, and that will only happen if there's cross-party support within the assembly.
Basil McCrea, the Ulster Unionist chairman of the board's human rights committee, said mechanisms would have to be put in place to regulate the work of the private firms, but he is firmly behind the idea.
"This is the right thing to do," he said.
"The chief constable has made his position clear and it's driven by the need to be cost effective.
Trained
"Clearly we need to ensure that the work is properly regulated, but we don't need fully warranted police officers to do this kind of work, they should be out on the streets.
"On that basis we will be supporting him."
Sinn Fein takes a very different view.
It is concerned that those most likely to meet the criteria for employment will be former members of the security forces who have firearms training, and says the police are best placed to deliver the service.
Policing Board member Alex Maskey said the party had fundamental concerns.
He said: "We have made the chief constable aware of our concerns."
"Even if these people are going to be guarding stations and protecting individuals, they are going to be inter-acting with the community and we want to know how they are going to be held to account for their actions.
Jobs
"At least a police officer can be held to account for his behaviour by the Policing Board, and that is a very important element in building public confidence in policing.
"We will listen to what the chief constable has to say, but in terms of getting our support for this, he has a long way to go."
Police sources insist that the jobs would be open to all, with no preference given to former officers or soldiers, and say training could be provided.
They say the alternative is keeping 400 fully-trained officers off the streets.
The chief constable is likely to find that what he sees as a common-sense move to reduce costs and increase flexibility will be the subject of some very heated debate.
Source: News Shopper
Two door supervisors from Bexley who went to the aid of an injured copper are to get a police commendation.
Rob Smith and Mitch Goodwin were on duty at Bar Lorca in Bexley Village High Street, and had alerted police to a man they had thrown out of the bar for approaching women customers and offering to share drugs with them.
When John Horton, then a PC with the neighbourhood policing team, told the man he would be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act, he threw a package of cannabis on the ground and ran.
PC Horton ran after him and tried to detain him, but during the violent struggle, PC Horton was bitten on the leg.
Mr Smith and Mr Goodwin saw the fight and went to the officer’s assistance.
The man was arrested and later pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis, assaulting a police officer and threatening behaviour.
Chief inspector Steve Murrant has thanked the men personally and they will both receive borough police commander’s commendations.
Source: Eastbourne Herald
A teenager who brandished a gun-shaped cigarette lighter and threatened to shoot two bouncers after they refused to let him into a nightclub has had his sentence more than halved.
Alan Price, 19, of Eastbourne, was jailed for two years on February 26 at Brighton Crown Court after being convicted of having an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
But judges sitting at London's Criminal Appeal Court today said the sentence was excessive and reduced it to eight months.
Mr Justice Holman, sitting with Mrs Justice Rafferty, told the court the incident took place on February 14 – Valentine's Day – last year.
Price had gone to TJs nightclub and was refused entry by the door staff because he was wearing casual clothes.
The court heard he "became agitated" and told them he was in the Army, not realising the club has a policy of giving free entry to members of the armed forces.
When one of the bouncers asked to see his identification, he became aggressive, saying he had a gun and was going to shoot her.
He then showed her the cigarette lighter, which looked like a genuine gun, and said: "I've got a Colt 45 and I am going to come back and shoot you."
When the other bouncer stepped in to help his colleague, Price shouted racist abuse at him before threatening to kill him.
The court heard Price committed an offence of having a bladed article while on bail for the TJs incident, by taking a flick knife into the same nightclub in September last year, for which he was sentenced by magistrates to a 12-month community order.
He also has previous convictions for assault and criminal damage.
Lawyers acting for Price argued the judge who sentenced him hadn't given enough consideration to his youth or "difficult" background when she set the two-year term.
They also highlighted comments made in psychiatric reports that Price was "ill-equipped" to deal with custody, shown by his history of struggling to cope with being in care homes as a child.
The appeal judges said although the offence was serious, they were concerned he may have been punished twice for the flick-knife offence, because of comments made by the judge when sentencing him.
Mr Justice Holman said: "Although what was employed in this case was a cigarette lighter, the fact is that it realistically resembled a gun and the door staff were not to know that it wasn't real.
"Very serious threats were made to each of them that he would shoot them with it. This was undoubtedly serious offending.
"But we are very clearly of the view that a sentence of two years was disproportionate and manifestly excessive in this case."
Source: SIA
The SIA's annual conference was held on the 15th June at The Kings Fund, London.
Titled 'A Common Purpose – Raising standards in the private security industry', the event aimed to encourage further development and progress by the industry, including examples of business best practice and the latest news from the SIA.
The conference was well attended with around 200 delegates including enforcement partners, security providers and buyers of security.
SIA Chairman Baroness Ruth Henig opened the conference and spoke on how everyone in the private security industry can work together more closely, the progress of regulation, areas of improvement and the vision for the industry.
She said:
"You can all help the SIA to move forward, building on the benefits of regulation which have been achieved so far, and working together to drive forward a joint agenda of professionalism of the industry and of higher skill levels and continuous training for those who work within it."
There were presentations from Russel Kerr, from SecuriGroup, (ACS Champion of the Year 2009) about working in the private security industry and two presentations about buying security from Andrew Nicholls, Mitchells & Butlers and Alan Brown from Tesco.
This year, a small exhibition communicating key messages from the SIA and partners replaced workshops and seminars. During the break, delegates had the opportunity to network before hearing an international view of private security from Hilde De Clerck, Confederation of European Security Services, followed by case studies of successful partnership working by Iwona Kossek, Nottingham City and Detective Chief Constable Mike Barton, Durham Police.
SIA Chief Executive Bill Butler acknowledged the main themes of the day in his closing remarks as he spoke on the importance of training, communication, reducing violence against those working in the industry and rewarding and recognising individuals.
Source: The Leader
A man playing an important role in the RAF was involved in a fracas where two pub doormen were assaulted.
It was claimed at Flintshire Magistrates’ Court that language difficulties had sparked off a misunderstanding.
Jon-Paul Evans, 26, based at the time at RAF Waddington in Lincoln, admitted assaulting one Polish bouncer at The Gold Cape in Mold and a public order offence involving a second Polish bouncer.
He was ordered to pay a £500 fine with £150 compensation and £460 costs.
Justin Espie, prosecuting, said that on February 13, just before midnight, Evans was leaving the pub and was advised by a doorman not to take his drink out into the street.
It was originally alleged that Evans spat at the doorman and an attempt was made to take his bottle off him.
It was alleged that Evans grabbed the doorman and punched him, causing a cut to the top of his nose.
A second doorman arrived and described his colleague struggling with two males.
He ended up being struck a number of times and he received a cut to the eye, which needed six stitches.
Evans admitted a public order offence on the basis that he was involved in a scuffle with him, but was not responsible for the injuries he received.
Interviewed, he said that he had been manhandled by door staff and claimed he acted in self-defence.
Steven Alis, defending, said that Evans had pleaded guilty on the basis of no spitting and that had been accepted by the prosecution previously.
He said his client had no intention of going outside or taking a bottle outside.
The doormen, while registered, did not have good English and had made their written statements in Polish.
Mr Alis said that there were clearly language difficulties, the doormen had misunderstood and tried to take his drink off him.
Source: Morning Advertiser
By Peter Coulson
Still on the subject of employment, a recent email from a reader reminded me of an important case, decided some five years ago, which should still be borne in mind by all operators.
You may have assumed that if you use an agency to supply your doormen, their conduct will be governed by their actual employers, who will be responsible to you for ensuring that they are all correctly badged and do not step out of line.
In fact, prudent operating companies make it a point of the contract between themselves and agencies that it is the operator’s responsibility to ensure that adequate insurance cover is taken out by the agency and that their workers remain their employees and are not deemed to be either employees or agents of the club or pub operators.
But the judge in this particular case ruled that the contract itself made no difference. It was what the real relationship was between the doormen and the club management that mattered.
He held that the operator effectively became the door staff’s temporary employer while they were working. They wore the club’s uniform and were subject to the control and instructions of the club manager. They did what the operator wanted during the time of their employment, so as to fulfil the club’s obligations under the terms of what was then a public entertainment licence, together with the local council’s regulations.
As a result, when one of the doormen lashed out at a customer during the period of his employment, resulting in long-term injury and brain damage, the club could not rely on the terms of its contract, and the offending doorman was held to be a “temporary deemed employee”, making the night-club operator liable to the injured man.
The club’s appeal against this ruling was unsuccessful, so it remains a stark warning to those licensees who think they are safe by handing over their responsibilities to an agency.
This ruling means that whoever is on the door becomes your responsibility while he or she is working. The agency appears to be responsible for providing the workers, but after that, the way they do their job is down to you.
This means you must, as a matter of urgency, check that your insurance cover provides adequate protection for the rare occasions when something goes wrong. The claim for this victim ran into thousands of pounds and, as I have previously commented, the case will undoubtedly be referred to in the future.
Q&A
Talent no exemption
Q. A colleague has said that if one part of an audience is entertaining another, such as in the case of a talent show, then we do not need an entertainment licence for live entertainment under the new law. Is this right?
A. No, it is not. Comments in decided cases state that if one section of the audience entertains another, this is public entertainment, so talent contests and competitions of the kind you suggest, if they involve some element of music or dancing, would certainly be subject to provision for regulated entertainment contained in the Licensing Act.
In my experience, most of the entertainment shows put on in pubs (other than events like quiz nights, which do not require a licence) involve some form of musical entertainment. In your own examples, it is likely that there will be music played by a DJ or compere, and possibly some dancing as well, either by contestants or the audience.
Gone are the days when a DJ merely announced the records and played them; today young customers expect a complete entertainment package.
The previous exemption for pubs with two performers or less no longer exists, so even if it is just one DJ and an audience, entertainment involving both live performers and recorded sound requires the premises licence to cover it. So I think you should play safe and apply to the district council for a variation of your licence before they send an inspector round.
How long to drink up?
Q. We have a premises licence that runs until midnight on weekdays and 1am at weekends. Sometimes we close earlier, especially at the beginning of the week. One or two customers have claimed that whether or not we stop serving, we must allow them until the time on the licence to drink up. Is this right?
A. Drinking up is not a right. It is, under any circumstances, a concession granted by the licensee or his authorised agent to permit customers to finish their drinks within a specified time and leave the premises if requested to do so.
The hours contained on the licence summary are not, therefore, the hours giving a legal entitlement to access to the premises. All admission is at the behest of the DPS or his authorised staff, or the holder of the premises licence. Admission may be refused unless certain conditions are met, and persons may be either refused service or asked to leave if they do not comply with reasonable behaviour rules, or are drunk or disorderly.
The hours you open your premises are entirely up to you and cannot be dictated by individual customers. Clearly you would want to give some time after ‘last orders’ for customers to finish, but you can then tell them to go home in the time-honoured way!
Raffle prize
Q. We run a college bar and have been asked to provide alcoholic raffle prizes for a fund-raising event next month. Do we need to obtain a special licence or permission to have these out on display? They will not be sold, merely offered as prizes. The bar licence covers the sale of drinks to students, staff and visitors.
A. Although technically the provision of alcohol prizes at an exempt event such as yours constitutes a sale of that alcohol, I make two points.
The first is that there is now an exemption for ‘incidental non-commercial lotteries’, contained in section 175 of the Licensing Act 2003 which has been amended by the Gambling Act 2005. A licence is not required where prizes of alcohol (in sealed containers) are awarded in such a lottery.
Secondly, you already have a licence for the college bar authorising the sale of alcohol. This does not have to be specific in terms of the sales it covers, and appears perfectly adequate to cover this activity.
Source: Lincs Echo
An unemployed man used his drunk friend to try to attack door staff, a court heard.
Richard Seddon, 21, was in Christopher's in Newland with a female friend when door staff asked her to leave because she had been sick inside.
Seddon was asked to go and take care of her, Lincoln Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.
Daniel Poulson, prosecuting, said: "He picked up the female and moved to throw her towards the door staff.
"He started swinging her to try and hit door staff with her."
The staff managed to get him away from the woman before police arrived.
Seddon, of Lincoln, told police in interview he was drunk and had no memory of the incident, but was trying to protect his friend, the court heard.
He pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour.
Leo Pyle, mitigating, said: "He accepts the facts, his recollection is clouded by the alcohol he consumed."
Seddon was fined £100, will have to pay a £16 Government surcharge and also £85 prosecution costs.
Source: Exeter Express & Herald
Exeter bouncers have welcomed new rules which would see door staff learn safe restraint and removal of drunk and violent revellers.
The mandatory training, which came into force this week, follows high profile deaths and injuries in bars and nightclubs across the country.
The rules currently apply only to new door staff who have never worked in the industry before.
Door supervisors in Exeter say the training is an "exceptionally good idea". Several of the city's bouncers have been assaulted and suffered injuries during their career.
Exeter Door Supervisors' Association chairman Jim Myers said: "Door staff must always expect the unexpected. It is a dog eat dog culture and some people will do their best to get one up on you. Door supervisors are often seen as trophies, and people will attack us for that reason alone.
"This new training is more important now than ever before. There is a day-to-day risk in the job we do, and I bet there isn't a door supervisor in Exeter who doesn't leave his house for work wondering if something might happen to him that night — it's just that sort of job."
Mr Myers said he had been attacked several times during his 23 years as a door supervisor.
"I started my career in Union Street in Plymouth and got hit in the face twice with a chair," he said. "I've been threatened with a glass bottle and have regularly had verbal abuse.
"This new training is an exceptionally good idea."
Bouncers and other security staff already receive training in non-physical skills before they can legally work in the UK.
But now that training must also include physical intervention techniques like safe restraint and ejection.
The move is part of a widespread shake-up of the door supervisor licence, which now includes lessons in first aid and terrorism awareness.
But groups representing bars and clubs have raised doubts over the cost of the scheme and whether the lessons are appropriate.
Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "We deplore anything that results in injury. But if someone commits an assault, then the law is there to prosecute them.
"We do not see the need for door staff to become paramedics or police — it's a step too far."
The Home Office is now consulting on measures to roll out the new training to all existing bouncers with compulsory top-up training every two years. A final decision is expected later this year.
Source: Inverness Courier
An internationally-renowned sculptor has hit out at over-zealous security staff at Inverness Airport who, he claims, are treating everyone like terrorists.
Gerald Laing is so tired of being frisked by airport staff, he plans to avoid flying from the airport altogether, travelling instead by car or train if possible.
And he thinks more profiling needs to be adopted in Inverness to save time, money and stop passengers being distressed unnecessarily.
"I think it is reasonable," he said. "We have a pretty good idea who generally wants to blow themselves up in an aeroplane and it is not me. I am 74 years old, a native of this country, an ex-regular army officer, an artist of some reputation, a frequent user of the airport, and I have lived at Kinkell Castle for more than 40 years. I do not believe that I fit the profile of a terrorist."
His frustration came to a head when he had to fly to London to oversee the installation of his newly-commissioned bronze sculpture for the Rugby Football Union at Twickenham.
In addition to the usual security checks, he says he was randomly selected by the metal detector and subjected to an intrusive body search, made to stand with his arms extended, with his palms facing upwards, even though he had no metal on him. He also had to remove his shoes, which were examined.
"I have had lots of experiences like that," he said. "It is something I could have done without - they went all over me with their hands. I just found it really unpleasant."
Mr Laing says he has seen an elderly woman in tears over the way she was treated by security staff at the airport.
"She was frightened," he said. "I don't think the answer was being aggressive to her.
"I do think there is a tendency in Britain for people with a bit of authority to be quite thuggish if they get the chance. Inverness airport security staff in particular are gaining some notoriety for their attitude to their work.
Gerald Laing - security staff need to be monitored.
"They will, of course, respond that they are working for our own good. That is undoubtedly so, but at the same time they should temper their work with good manners, goodwill and good sense. They should not treat every passenger as a suspect."
Mr Laing thinks security staff need to be constantly monitored and fears tourism may be affected.
"It is a poor advertisement for the Highlands," he claimed.
A spokesman for Inverness Airport was unable to discuss its security procedures.
"Airports within the Highlands and Islands Airports group deliver a standard of security to meet the regulations laid down by the European Commission and the Department for Transport," he said.
"An in-depth investigation is completed if required and the findings reported to the individual and relevant security agencies."
Source: Plymouth Herald
A man has been given jail sentences for "glassing" two staff members at a Plymouth club.
Nigerian Yemi Alao, 24, of Wolsdon Street, was yesterday sentenced at Plymouth Crown Court to two concurrent 12-month stretches in prison after a jury found him guilty of two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm.
Alao — who is already serving a 17-month sentence in Dartmoor Prison for a conspiracy to defraud offence — had pleaded not guilty to the assault which harmed door supervisor Pavel Kisel and Cuba club manager Peter Chevin.
The court was told during the trial that on the evening of September 24, 2008, Alao went out with friends and ended up in Cuba on North Hill.
At about 4am the next day, he was involved in a fight with another man in which he was bitten on the forehead and the chest, the court was told.
The trial had also been told how Mr Kisel tried to pull the two men apart but received three facial cuts from a wine glass Alao was holding — one narrowly missing his eye — while Mr Chevin received two small cuts on his forearm when he tried to take the glass from Alao.
Yesterday, Recorder Michael Parroy QC, jailing Alao for 12 months for each offence to run concurrently, said that Mr Kisel had been "extremely lucky" in relation to his injuries.
"It is a thousand mercies that you did not take out his eye."
Mr Parroy said he accepted that Alao had not deliberately tried to cause harm — but he did label the fighting as "serious".
The jury took about an hour to return the guilty verdict. Alao was immediately led off to prison.
During the trial this week, the prosecution claimed Alao either cut the men deliberately or knew he had a broken glass in his hand but still thrashed around recklessly.
Mr Kisel had told the court his injuries could have been an accident — but he had said Alao clearly meant to carry on with the fight and wanted to get rid of anyone standing in his way.
Mr Chevin had said Alao had lashed out with the glass in his hand and caught Mr Kisel after being told to release it. Doorman Lee McNair had also said Alao seemed to be the more aggressive of the two men.
Giving evidence this week, Alao said the other man, who had been aggressive to him before, had barged into him on the club stairs but not apologised.
The court had been told that Alao confronted the man and that led to a scuffle in which both fell through a fire exit into the street. He did not realise he had accidentally injured the bar staff, the court was told — but later apologised.
Source: Morning Advertiser
Police are asking Colchester licensees to suspend drink sales for a period during World Cup games to let punters “cool down”.
An email from police to licensees says: “We would suggest bars consider suspending sales early, for example, just as the second half of any game starts, to allow a degree of ‘cooling down’ and to avoid a sudden rush to get out onto the street having just consumed their last drink.”
It is one of a list of suggestions for pubs, to avoid trouble during the tournament.
But one Colchester licensee, who declined to be named, criticised the idea.
“If you turn to fans at the start of the second half and say you’re not getting any service, who knows what will happen,” the host said.
“I want to protect my staff. I won’t be doing it.”
It will be discussed at a pubwatch meeting this week.
Other suggestions from police include considering using polycarbonate glassware, banning troublemakers as soon as it’s practical, and carrying out risk assessments to ensure doorstaff can cope with crowds.
The police email also warned: “We will use powers within the 2003 Licensing Act to deal with problem premises. If necessary we will use the powers under Section 161 and issue closure orders. Officers will be conducting proactive visits during the matches.”
Clare Eames, of solicitors Poppleston Allen, predicted an increase in licence reviews as police and councils step up activity around the World Cup. She said: “People are going to want to watch England play down their local. But operators need to be aware that there are very proactive police forces and local authorities up and down the country who will use this to their advantage.”
How licensees are tempting in World Cup punters
Licensees have revealed innovative ways to attract punters during the tournament.
Customers at the Old Colonial in Mirfield, West Yorks, receive “passports” for entry. The document is stamped when they watch an England game and a free pint is offered when it’s full.
Food from participating countries will be served — including chocolate locusts, in homage to hosts South Africa.
Beers from the participating nations will be available at Benson Blakes Bar and Grill in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. Some “poetic licence” has been employed, however; for example, Sol is the beer for South Korea because it shares its name with the country’s capital.
The venue is offering an upmarket football package in its function room, which includes canapes, a meal, unlimited soft drinks, a bucket of world beers and full table service for £25 per match, or a “season ticket” for £60.
Meanwhile, the bar at Holiday Inn at Winchester is making sure punters don’t miss a kick — by fitting mini TV screens on the beer fonts.
Source: Morning Advertiser
More pubwatch-style groups for doorstaff are set to be formed following the creation of a National Doorwatch steering group.
Doorwatch sees supervisors keeping in contact with each other and police and bringing information on troublemakers to the attention of licensees. However, they don’t decide who gets banned.
The scheme operates across parts of Devon and Cornwall, plus Coventry and Nottingham. National Doorwatch chairman Ian Fox said there’s been interest from other areas including Leicester, John Street in Birmingham, Norwich, Oldham, Gateshead, Kent and Maidenhead in Berkshire.
A steering committee of volunteers has been formed to help the roll-out. It includes Pat Parkes, former manager of the Nottingham Business Improvement District (BID), who is helping in expansion of BIDs nationally.
National Pubwatch committee member Trevor Pepper, British Security Industry Association chairman Tony Clarke and Gerald Eva, who founded the original doorwatch in Tiverton, are also on board.
Fox, a director of the institute of conflict management, said another aim of National Doorwatch is to improve the image of doorstaff.
There are plans to run education programmes in schools to encourage better behaviour among pub-goers and more respect for doorstaff.
He said he was saddened by the attitude of some police forces and courts towards door supervisors.
“Door supervisors are faced with a huge amount of violence, but get no support. The police seem to think, ‘you are just doorstaff, what do you expect?’
“There’s a casual acceptance of violence on door supervisors. They don’t have the full backing of the law. You stand in court as a door supervisor and you will be seen as the bad guy.
“We are going to speak out positively on behalf of the door-supervisor community,” he said.
National Doorwatch is also trying to secure funding to help its expansion.
For more details, see http://www.nationaldoorwatch.org
Source: Morning Advertiser
Nottingham licensees have given tentative support to police calls for clubs to adopt smart dress codes to curb violence.
Paul Inman, police licensing officer for Newark and Sherwood, has been asking licensees to implement dress codes, believing that people would be less likely to fight if they were dressed smartly.
It follows a “significant increase” in incidents at the Corn Exchange nightclub on Castlegate, Newark.
“It is my opinion, but if somebody goes out in an old jumper and £4 jeans from Tesco, they are not going to be bothered about rolling around on the ground at the end of the night,” Inman told the Newark Advertiser.
“If they are wearing decent shoes, smart trousers or even decent jeans, they will be that bit more reluctant.
“I have explained the value of this to the licensees but it will be their decision.”
Tantra club on Victoria Street operates a strict smart dress policy seven nights a week. Manager Mike Dawson said: “I suppose it might help a little bit.
“Some nightclubs run student nights and they let people in wearing all sorts. If you’re wearing sports gear you need to go to the gym. But I would expect people to dress casually to go to the pub on Sundays, for example.”
Gatecrasher on Queen Street also enforces a strict dress policy including no trainers, hoodies or baseball caps. Manager Louise Sharp said the scheme might be worth pursuing in troublesome venues, but it wouldn’t affect Gatecrasher.
Another club manager, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t think it would make a difference. The only thing is it would be helpful to exclude a certain type of person. I would get involved, but I think they can come up with something better than that.”
The Corn Exchange was unavailable for comment.
Source: Kent Online
Nightclub bouncers are using a new crime-fighting spray which brands troublemakers - so police can catch them later.
Wincheap-based Right Guard Security is pioneering the device which it hopes will help bring thugs and drunks to justice.
Door staff at Canterbury's pubs and clubs have been issued with the spray called Red Offender ID in a bid to cut crime.
It allows them to mark those suspected of being involved in disturbances outside venues.
The firm says police can then identify the suspects and pinpoint their whereabouts.
Right Guard managing director Tony Smith has issued the spray to his staff and is leading classes in how to use it.
He said: "Firstly, it marks the offender with red dye making it easier for police officers to identify them.
"It also has unique bio-synthetic DNA which means people can be linked irrefutably to a location.
"The spray also distracts and deters the offender.
"The spray is a unique crime fighting tool and is ideal for security workers.
"Its appearance mirrors the look of CS gas or pepper spray and that can help subdue people."
Source: The Sun
Convicted gangland killer was on the run last night after being sprung from a prison van on his way to court.
Richard Smith, 29 - once dubbed one of Britain's most wanted men - was freed after two thugs ambushed security guards, threatening them with a crowbar.
Smith was then driven away in a white Ford Transit van, which was later found abandoned. Police warned people not to approach the violent fugitive as a nationwide manhunt began.
Smith had been on his way to Salford Magistrates' Court after being charged over an arson attack on a garage in Walkden, Lancs.
In 2001 he was jailed for five-and-a-half years for the manslaughter of former paratrooper Ben Kamanalagi, 28.
The nightclub doorman, who had a heavily-pregnant girlfriend, was battered with a fence post after ejecting Smith and three pals from a Manchester bar in 1999.
The men went into hiding but were collared after a high-profile hunt. Smith then caused uproar by smiling and giving a thumbs-up after he and a pal were sentenced.
It is believed he was freed in 2003.
Det Insp Clare Devlin, of Salford CID, said last night: "If you see him, don't approach him. Call 999 immediately."
Smith is described as 5ft 10in, and heavily built with green eyes, brown hair and a tattoo on one finger. He was wearing jeans, a black sweatshirt and Adidas trainers.
Anyone with information is asked to call Salford CID on 0161 856 5351 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
Source: Herald Express
Two men who allegedly battered a bouncer in an 'unprovoked attack' outside a Newton Abbot pub over the Bank Holiday weekend have been arrested and released on police bail.
The two men, aged 31 and 34, were arrested on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm outside the Jolly Farmer pub in Market Street on Sunday just before 11pm.
DC Richard Fuller from Teignmouth CID is appealing for witnesses to come forward to the attack which left the bouncer with cuts and reddening to the back of his head, throat and arm.
He said the alleged violence started when the bouncer tried to escort the younger man from the pub and the older man allegedly grabbed the bouncer by the throat.
"Then the two men started punching and attacking the bouncer," said Mr Fuller.
"It was very quick. It was a short attack. The bouncer was able to break free and get help from another doorman.
"The 34-year-old man was taken outside, where there was a further struggle before police arrived and detained the man."
He added that it took two bouncers and two police officers to detain the 34-year-old man, while the younger man fled the scene.
Mr Fuller added: "I would like to hear from anyone who saw this incident, both inside the Jolly Farmer and the violence that followed into the street.
"The pub was quite busy and door staff were just asking this man to leave and they are quite within their rights to do that and this was an unprovoked attack."
The two men will answer police bail on July 14.
If anyone has information on this incident please contact the police on 0845 2777444 quoting reference JN/10/1092 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: The Argus
Parking wardens are refusing to patrol in Brighton and Hove's party district over fears they could be beaten up.
The attendants are not checking for vehicles breaking traffic laws in the busiest part of the city at night time because they say they are being bullied by bouncers.
The news emerged at a public meeting of the Brighton Old Town Local Action Team discussing the problems residents are facing in the West Street, Preston Street and Middle Street areas of the city.
Community leaders told the meeting the number of cars lining the pavements in the area despite double yellow lines was a problem.
But they were stunned to be told that the reason the law wasn't being enforced was because the wardens were too scared to go there.
Regency ward councillor Jason Kitkat told the group: “I have asked why we continue to have this problem of people parking where they shouldn't and I have been told that traffic wardens are intimidated by door staff and will not walk down Preston Street after 10pm.
“It is either employees of the nightclub that are parking up or people dropping off revellers but there is a problem with bully door staff which mean these wardens are concerned for their personal safety.
“I don't want anyone to feel unsafe or come to harm but if wardens can't enforce the traffic laws of the city then we really are facing a sad situation.”
A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We are disappointed to hear of these issues in West Street and will investigate the claims further.
"This is exactly why Local Action Teams were established and it is feedback such as this which we will be acting upon.
“We would point out that Brighton and Hove is an award-winning authority for the way that it manages its night time economy.
“Our on-street parking enforcement contractor NSL works closely with Sussex Police when carrying out late night enforcement in the area, including recent joint operations in Pool Valley until 2am.
“Drivers are allowed to drop off passengers on double yellow lines but may be issued with a Penalty Charge Notice if they park there.”
Inspector Vicky Harris, Sussex Police's head of licensing for Brighton and Hove, said: "I am not aware of this being reported to us as an issue, but I am meeting with local security firms next week and will raise this as a concern.
“Where problems have existed in the past we have supported the council run wardens by accompanying them on late night patrols, but I would stress that this hasn't been because of any problems with security staff."
Source: Essex County Standard
Fake college identity cards are flooding Colchester, nightclub doorman have warned.
Security staff say high-quality copies of Colchester Institute’s student photo ID cards, showing the bearer to be over 18, are being used by teenagers eager to get in to adults-only venues.
The fake cards are so realistic they are also being used by under-age youngsters to buy booze in shops and pubs.
Many of the door staff working at pubs and clubs in the town are supplied by Braintree-based company Regency Security, which claims the use of fake IDs by underage youngsters is a common problem.
Regency’s Paul DeAngelis said: “Every couple of months there’s a different type of fake card going around.
“At the moment, it does appear to be this fake Colchester Institute card.
“However, while fake ID cards are an issue, the bigger problem at the moment is people using their brother or sister’s passport or driving licence.
“We’ve told all our door supervisors to be very tough and to check ID closely.
“We also operate a Challenge 21 policy, where if you look under 21, we will always ask for proof of age.”
Mr DeAngelis said the increase in the number of fake ID cards meant his staff were reluctant to accept anything but Government-approved identity documents, such as passports, driving licences and Ministry of Defence cards.
Mick Aitchison, Colchester police licensing officer, said: “We will be investigating. We’d ask all pub and club owners to make sure they scrutinise identification cards.
“Licensed premises should only accept photo identification, such as a passport, photo driving licence or citizen card, or Proof of Age Standards Scheme-approved cards.”
Emma Fazakerley, communications officer at Colchester Institute, said: “Our student ID cards do not include a date of birth on them. We would urge pubs and clubs to check an appropriate and official ID card, for example a driver’s licence or passport, when checking for people’s age.”
Source: BSIA
The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has hit back at claims made by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson that security officers are "pretty much useless".
Writing in his recent Sunday Times column, Clarkson asserted that security officers are a "waste of time" whose main function in life is "making the lives of normal people a little bit more difficult."
James Kelly, Chief Executive of the BSIA, takes a strong view of such claims and comments: "It is very disappointing to see that such outdated views of security personnel are still alive and well in modern society. Security officers perform an essential public service to help safeguard buildings, business assets and provide everyday protection to the general public.
"Only last month did I travel across the country to recognise the sheer dedication that is so prevalent within our industry by presenting the regional winners of the BSIA's Security Personnel Awards 2010. These awards recognise both individuals and teams for the real achievements they have made, from capturing armed intruders to saving lives, often endangering their own health and safety and risking serious injury in the process.
"The industry has certainly changed for the better in recent years, and thanks to the introduction of licensing, improved training and higher standards of working practices, Mr Clarkson's old-fashioned image of the lazy security guard is now well and truly redundant."
Source: News & Star
Doormen are wearing evidence-gathering cameras outside Carlisle pubs and clubs in the latest scheme to stop drink-fuelled crime.
Bouncers working a number of the doors in the city centre are using headcams that can record exactly what happens if trouble flares as they stand guard.
It is hoped the sight of a camera will act as a deterrent to any thugs or yobs, putting them off the idea of causing problems because they will be caught on film.
The move, introduced in recent months, has been welcomed by police – and door supervisors say it is further evidence of the professional way in which they carry out their jobs.
Sergeant Richard Higgin, who works the city centre beat, said: “This is an extra tool for the door staff. It is a deterrent if anybody is thinking of causing any trouble and it will be a good way of gathering evidence to investigate any incidents that have taken place.”
Carlisle-based Pro-Tect UK Security and Training Ltd provides doormen.
John Lee Jeffrey, managing director, said his firm had used them in places such as Manchester and found them useful, so decided to use them in Carlisle.
He said: “I’ve found them to be excellent. People know they are being recorded.”
Mr Jeffrey said he was thinking of expanding his range of cameras and using them in other towns, such as Dumfries and Lockerbie.
Carlisle firm Safe and Sound Security have been using a camera and say the tactic could be employed at a string of pubs and clubs if they deem it a success.
John Baird, managing director, said: “If anything happens on the street or outside it will capture everything. If we see trouble it can be used as evidence.”
Source: The People
Pubs are being warned to use bouncers to crack down on World Cup louts - or face being CLOSED.
Thousands of bars are being told they must deal with England troublemakers who cram in to guzzle booze during TV games.
And if they fail to stop Three Lions yobs causing havoc on their premises they risk being shut.
The alert comes as police forces team up with councils to launch the country's biggest crackdown on antisocial and criminal behaviour among drunken fans.
Pubs with a history of aggro will be monitored and advised to employ bouncers under strict new guidelines set to be enforced in time for South Africa.
A police source said: "They will be warned to keep a lid on any violence or face immediate closure.
"Boozy fans have caused havoc in the past and police will not let local communities be blighted." The Metropolitan Police have warned pubs in London they face action if they do not "actively support" the prevention of crime.
Another controversial suggestion has been to bar anyone wearing football shirts.
But licensees have hit back at that idea, with Bill Sharp of the Independent Pub Confederation saying: "The World Cup should be a chance for people to enjoy the football in the pub."
Source: SIA
The SIA is supporting a new Home Office campaign, which addresses young adults using fake or false identification when attempting to enter pubs and clubs.
The initiative, in association with the Proof of Age Scheme (PASS) advises young people that if they are caught using fake, or someone else’s ID, they could have it confiscated and may be prosecuted.
The SIA is urging door supervisors to confiscate false ID and hand them over to the police, who will then return the documents to the relevant authority.
Baroness Ruth Henig, Chairman at the SIA said:
"We are advising licensees and door staff to help ensure fake or false IDs are confiscated and handed to the police.
Trained and professional SIA-licensed door supervisors play an important role in creating a safe environment for the public when visiting pubs and clubs across the UK.
Door staff can also contribute to reducing under-age drinking. Our approved door supervisor training ensures door supervisors are made aware of the PASS scheme."
PASS Chairman Robert Humphreys added:
"This campaign is timely and most welcome. Many underage young people often see getting past door staff or being served as something of a game, but for those responsible for enforcing the law it's no joke - in fact a mistake can easily cost them their jobs and even get them a criminal record. The clarity of the message is vital - attempting to break the law is unacceptable and could get you in serious trouble."
The fake ID posters can be downloaded from the Home Office website.
PASS is the national proof-of-age accreditation scheme, endorsed by Government, which sets minimum standards for proof-of-age cards. More details can be found on their website: http://www.pass-scheme.org.uk
The Security Industry Authority regulates the private security industry in the United Kingdom under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, reporting to the Home Secretary. Its main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme approving private security suppliers.
Source: Telegraph & Argus
A man who injured three revellers with a sawn-off shotgun after being thrown out of a Bradford nightclub was yesterday jailed for a total of 13 years for that offence and drug-dealing.
Omar Shah threatened to come back and shoot door staff after they forcefully ejected him from The Cube in Ivegate in the city centre, at 3.30am, for “having a go” at a deaf man.
Prosecutor Dave MacKay told Bradford Crown Court that 24-year-old Shah returned to Ivegate less than 20 minutes later with the weapon, which he fired up the street towards the club.
Customer Christopher Silson, who was standing outside the club, suffered 80 pellet wounds to his back, neck, arms and head. A member of door staff was hit in the leg but was uninjured.
CCTV footage showed Shah reloading the gun before running into the club, where he fired one shot upwards towards the DJ stand from a crouched position, injuring two other customers.
Howard Brown was knocked to the floor and suffered blister injuries to his shoulder and chest. Kamran Mahmood suffered an eye injury.
Shah fled the club and fired another shot at a man in the street, who ran for cover and was not hit.
The defendant was identified from CCTV footage and arrested.
Shah’s barrister, Sukhbir Bassra, said no-one had been seriously injured and when shots were fired outside the club there was no deliberate aiming at individuals. His client contended his intention was to scare people, not to injure.
Mr Bassra said the defendant could not name the people who gave him the gun because there would be reprisals against his family.
He was a pleasant, well-thought of man who had never resorted to violence in the past, but was easily led by those more criminally sophisticated.
Judge Alistair McCallum said Shah had come within a hair’s breadth of life imprisonment or an indeterminate sentence. He said the gun used was a vicious weapon and the offence was planned.
Shah, of Quaker Lane, Canterbury, Bradford, had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to possessing a sawn-off shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence, wounding with intent, and two charges of causing actual bodily harm, on November 7 last year.
Judge McCallum sentenced him to ten years’ imprisonment for those offences and a further three years for charges of supplying heroin and crack cocaine and possessing both drugs with intent to supply, in August last year, which he had also admitted.
Telegraph & Argus - Video of incident available on link
Source: BBC News
A woman has admitted blinding a doorman by stamping her high-heeled stiletto through his eyeball after she was asked to leave an Edinburgh nightclub.
Sarah Marsden, 37, had agreed to leave Shanghai following a row when she spat in door steward, Graham Roach's face.
Before he had time to react, he was pushed to the ground and stamped on.
Sheriff Neil MacKinnon deferred sentence until next month for background reports, when pleas in mitigation will also be heard.
The court heard Mr Roach, 28, underwent a four-hour emergency operation, but doctors were unable to save his eyesight.
He faces further surgery to repair damage to his eye socket, in the hope he can at least wear a fake eyeball.
The incident started when Marsden and 49-year-old friend Anthony Walker were asked to leave the George Street club.
Mr Roach had been working on the door of the Shanghai nightclub's upstairs bar, Le Monde, when he heard the pair arguing with one of his security colleagues.
Walker was threatening to hit the bouncer, Andrew Pringle, with a bottle, fiscal depute Pauline Shade said.
Ms Shade told the court: "She was wearing a pair of high-heeled stilettos and she stamped on Mr Roach's face.
"The heel of her shoe entered Mr Roach's eye-socket and in fact punctured his eye."
Marsden and Walker were taken away by police while the victim lay bleeding on the ground.
'Permanently blind'
An ambulance took Mr Roach to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where specialist eye surgeons were called in.
Miss Shade said: "By this point Mr Roach was bleeding profusely from his eye and was in a great deal of pain.
"Unfortunately, the damage to Mr Roach's eye was too severe and the surgeons were unable to repair the damage.
"As a result, Mr Roach is permanently blind in that eye."
Walker pleaded guilty to breaching the peace. He will also be sentenced next month.
Source: SIA
The Security Industry Authority is reminding those operating in the door supervision industry that the current Home Office consultation, proposing additional training for UK door supervisors, will close on the 23rd March.
The additional training proposed in the consultation includes physical intervention, first aid, special considerations when dealing with young people and awareness of the threat of terrorism.
The deadline for responses is 23 March 2010.
To have your say, please visit the consultation page on the Home Office website
Source: Morning Advertiser
Fears have been raised about the timescale for making physical intervention training compulsory for doorstaff.
A course on physical intervention must be passed in order to get a Security Industry Authority (SIA) doorstaff licence from 31 August. The BIIAB’s SIA-approved qualification on physical intervention is to be launched on 1 June.
Speaking at the BIIAB conference in Coventry, one security provider said it would be difficult to get the training done in time, especially during the busy summer period.
BIIAB deputy director Denise Thomson said: “We’ve been working very, very hard to get agreement on the content. We all know the difficulties around physical intervention and we have to be absolutely sure we get it right now.”
SIA development manager Tony Holyland spelt out the need for such training: “We are aware of at least 13 deaths occurring because of ejections gone wrong.”
But he said any extra regulations must be “demonstratively proportionate” to the costs - “we are not here to add burden and another cost to the industry.”
Thomson said she believed the existing physical intervention course run by Maybo would be accredited under the SIA scheme. Holyland added: “That’s very much what I want to see happening.”
Source: SIA
The seventh Door Supervisors Network meeting will be held on Wednesday 31 March in Tiverton, Devon.
The event is being organised and facilitated by Petroc College, with the support of the Security Industry Authority.
The meeting is an opportunity for delegates working within door supervision to engage with the SIA and others in their industry and discuss issues affecting them.
Places are limited and there is a small charge to cover catering. If you would like to attend the meeting, please visit www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/ds-network to register your interest by 5 March 2010.
Source: Bristol Evening Post
Two Bristol brothers who attacked a doorman moments after they had been thrown out of a Gloucester nightclub have both been jailed.
One of the brothers, Meikel Powell, 22, also received a further prison term for drug dealing at the Glastonbury festival last year.
At Gloucester Crown Court Meikel, of Thicket Road, Fishponds, and his brother Rafiki, 21, of Webb Street, both admitted unlawfully wounding doorman Jason Rickard at the Innteraction club in Gloucester on December 19, 2008.
Prosecutor Julian Kesner said a fight broke out in the club in the early hours of the morning and Mr Rickard was told by radio that some people were being ejected. The Powells were amongst them.
Although Mr Rickard was not involved in the ejection, he was set on outside the club a few moments later by Meikel Powell, said Mr Kesner. Powell punched Mr Rickard to the ground and aimed a kick at him – and then his brother joined in by also throwing a punch.
"A lot of blood was spilt on the pavement," said Mr Kesner. "Mr Rickard suffered three lacerations requiring a total of 17 stitches."
Mr Kesner said Meikel Powell was also before the court to be sentenced for his role in a drug dealing operation at Glastonbury.
Undercover police at the festival were approached by Meikel and asked if they wanted any "weed".
They declined and then watched as Meikel approached almost every other person in their vicinity.
The officers saw exchanges of cash for plastic bags believed to contain illegal drugs, said Mr Kesner. When arrested, Meikel claimed he was selling beer and Rizla papers but not drugs.
Ramin Pakrooh, for Meikel, said he was just advertising drugs for another man who was dealing.
He said the incident at the Gloucester nightclub arose because Meikel felt aggrieved about being ejected and went to seek some form of revenge.
For Rafiki Powell, Andrew McGee said he lashed out at the doorman in an act of "spur of the moment spontaneous violence". Until his punch he had been behaving "perfectly placidly".
Rafiki was about to become a dad – his partner had just had labour induced as the case was getting under way, he added.
Judge William Hart said the ferocity of the attack on the doorman required both to be jailed.
He sentenced Meikel to 16 months and Rafiki to 12 months for the assault. Meikel was jailed for four months consecutively for the Glastonbury offence, taking his sentence to 20 months. He must pay £750 compensation to Mr Rickard.
Bristol Evening Post
Source: football365.com
Manchester United's security firm have sacked a steward after 19 years' service for attempting to return an anti-Glazer banner to its owners.
Granville Boden was given his marching orders by CES for taking a confiscated banner reading 'Love United, Hate Glazer' with the intention of giving it back to the protest group.
The security firm were at the centre of controversy after the Burnley game of January 16 when they took down the banner and ejected the fans voicing their disapproval of the owners.
Boden accepts CES were within their rights to sack him, but claims that dissent is rife amongst Old Trafford staff.
He told The Times: "There is a lot of internal conflict between the staff and I think that conflict is only going to grow as the protests against the Glazers gather more momentum.
"There are a lot of staff at the club who are sympathetic to what the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST) are trying to achieve. I don't regret anything I did."
There are unconfirmed reports that four other stewards have been disciplined by CES for wearing green and gold, while United have been forced to deny that catering staff have been sent home for wearing the colours associated with the protest movement.
Source: Express & Star
A doorman was shot at point-blank range a Black Country nightclub, then drove himself to hospital and described the incident as ‘part of the job’.
Kenny Bain, aged 25, received a “superficial” gunshot wound to the stomach as he tried to escort a man out of the club in a row about the dress code.
He drove himself to hospital after the drama at Envoy, The Waterfront, Brierley Hill, police said today.
Officers were called to the club at 2.30am on Saturday and sealed off the area while a forensic team carried out a search. The club remained closed on Saturday night.
Police think the gun may have been loaded with blanks.
Mr Bain, who works as electrician during the week, said: “It is a shock that someone had a gun in a club.
“Me getting shot is just part of my job to protect the people inside. It’s a shame because it was only one incident that spoiled a good night.”
Police spokesman Brigg Ford said: “There was some kind of altercation over a dress code issue, and the man refused to comply.
“When he was asked to leave, he pulled out a gun. Fortunately the injuries were not life-threatening.”
No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing.
Source: BBC
The UK terror threat level is being raised from "substantial" to "severe", Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said.
The new alert level means a terrorist attack is considered "highly likely". It had stood at substantial since July.
It is in response to the perceived increased threat from international terrorism following the failed Detroit airliner bombing on Christmas Day.
Mr Johnson stressed there was no intelligence to suggest a terrorist attack was imminent.
The decision to raise the threat level was made by the UK's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).
 |
THREAT LEVEL SYSTEM
Low - attack is unlikely
Moderate - attack is possible, but not likely
Substantial - attack is a strong possibility
Severe - attack is highly likely
Critical - attack is expected imminently
 |
Mr Johnson said JTAC kept the threat level under constant review, making its judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas.
He said: "We still face a real and serious threat to the UK from international terrorism, so I would urge the public to remain vigilant and carry on reporting suspicious events to the appropriate authorities and to support the police and security services in their continuing efforts to discover, track and disrupt terrorist activity."
Mr Johnson said the new level meant people needed to be "more aware".
The decision to raise the threat level was not specifically linked to the failed Christmas Day bomb attack on a plane bound for Detroit or to any other incident, he said.
He said the government would not reveal specific intelligence details.
"We never say what the intelligence is and it would be pretty daft of us to do that," he said, adding: "It shouldn't be thought to be linked to Detroit or anywhere else for that matter."
But the UK had not reached the highest threat level of "critical", which would mean an attack was imminent.
Move mirrors US
He added: "We have a very adept and very focused counter terrorism facility in this country, which consists of many police officers as well as security officers, so the public should be reassured by that."
The US Department of Homeland Security said the move meant the UK would be on a similar level of alert to America.
In a statement it said: "The UK is raising their measures to effectively where we are with the airport security measures that we have taken and announced over the last few weeks.
"We have enhanced our security measures and communicated specific information to industry, law enforcement and the American people."
BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the perceived threat from Yemen since the Christmas day attempted attack may be one factor behind the decision to raise the threat level.
But he added that there might be additional factors which have not been revealed by the government.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced on Wednesday that direct flights between Yemen and the UK were to be suspended over fears about their safety.
The change in threat level comes days ahead of two major international conferences on Yemen and Afghanistan in London on Wednesday and Thursday.
There are five levels of terror threat, ranging from low - meaning an attack is unlikely - to critical - when an attack is expected imminently. Severe is the second highest level on the scale.
The threat level was first made public on 1 August 2006, when it was set at severe. It was raised to critical on 10 August that year after a series of arrests over an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic aircraft but lowered to severe again the following week.
The threat level was last at critical in June 2007, following the attack on Glasgow Airport and the failed car bombings in central London.
BBC News
Source: BSIA
The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the Government's consultation paper on the proposed introduction of additional training for door supervisors.
Launched in December 2009, the consultation aims to make new skills in physical intervention, first aid, dealing with young people and awareness of the threat of terrorism, a basic requirement for all door supervisors either renewing an existing licence or new entrants to the industry who are applying for one for the first time.
BSIA Leisure Industry Section Chairman, Tony Clarke, comments: "Door supervisors deal closely with a real cross-section of the public, so it's important that they have sufficient training in order to reduce conflict and protect both themselves and others.
"At the BSIA, we are pleased to see that the Home Office has taken on board some of the suggestions put forward by the security industry and recognise the commitment to industry best practice that this proposal represents. Door supervisors already play a vital role in the night-time community and this further training will only enhance their ability to protect the public in challenging situations."
The additional training requirements will form part of the licence application process for new door supervisors from as early as June 2010, with top-up training for existing licence-holders introduced from May 2011 should the consultation be approved.
To find out more about the BSIA's Leisure Industry Section, click here. The consultation can be viewed at the Home Office website by clicking here.
Source: Norwich Evening News
A doorman cleared of the unlawful killing of a Norwich father outside a nightclub in the city centre has told how he wants to rebuild his life and continue working in the same role.