Source: BBC News
Tributes have been paid to a teenager who died after being involved in an "altercation" with bouncers.
Steven Smith, 18, was refused entry to Fury Murry's in Paisley in the early hours of Sunday morning and died shortly after the incident.
Police said they were treating the death as suspicious.
Some of the Facebook tributes left for the teenager referred to Mr Smith's brother Darren, who was stabbed to death four years ago.
The brothers' cousin Kirsty Warnock said on her Facebook page: "Still in shock. Can't believe you've been taken away from us little cousin, on Christmas Day.
"I can't believe it's happened all over again. I'm sure your Big Brother Darren will be looking after you like before in the big clouds."
Darren Smith, 20, died from a single stab wound to the chest when he was attacked in Gallowhill, Paisley, in December 2006
Neighbour Christopher Horrell was charged with Darren Smith's murder. He was jailed for eight years after admitting culpable homicide.
In a Facebook tribute to Steven Smith, friend Gary Steedman wrote: "Cannot believe or come to terms with the fact that I will never see you again mate.
"You will allways be sadly missed but never forgotten. My heart and dearest symapathies go out to Steven's friends and family."
Flowers and football tops have also been left outside the nightclub.
Police have appealed for information about the death.
Officers said they wanted to know where Mr Smith was before he turned up at the nightclub.
Det Insp Lesley McDowall said: "We know that the young man left his family home around 9pm on Saturday night saying that he was heading out for the night, but so far, we do not know where he was between 9pm and when he got to the club at quarter to one in the morning.
"I am very keen to find out who he was with and what he was doing between those times.
"I would also like to speak to anyone who was in Shuttle Street and who saw the disturbance, or who has any information that will help us with our inquiries."
Source: Birmingham Mail
A teenager was shot and another man stabbed inside Birmingham’s Bullring during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Armed police were called to the Birmingham Bullring Shopping Centre after reports of a shooting and a stabbing.
Parts of the city centre were locked down by armed police around 2pm after an incident involving two men.
A 19-year-old was shot in the leg while the second man suffered injuries to his face.
City centre shop entrances became crime scenes as armed officers swooped in to hunt offenders after a 19-year-old man was shot in the leg and a second man was stabbed in the face.
Inspector Bernard McEldowney, of West Midlands Police confirmed the incidents but said the injuries were not life threatening.
Eyewitnesses told the Birmingham Mail there had been a confrontation among two groups of youths in the area between the Mango and Selfridges stores on the middle floor of the Bullring – one of the busiest shopping centres in the country.
Jeff Hayben, who was working in Mango when he heard a gunshot, said: “It was really busy in the store as you would expect on Boxing Day and out of the blue I heard a gunshot though the window, which was a real shock.
“There was some sort of confrontation between what looked like two rival groups of youths – one group of Caucasian or white youths and a group of black youths. A black lad was shot in the leg, I saw him limp away then collapse and his mates dragged him away.”
Source: The Glaswegian
Staff at a popular Glasgow nightspot have praised a new scheme that allows bouncers to film boozed-up yobs on "ned cams".
It is believed the mini-cameras, which let aggressive louts see their own drunken faces, will help to reduce violence towards door staff at city-centre venues.
A similar scheme has already proved successful in England.
Victorias on Sauchiehall Street is one of the nightclubs where security staff are attaching the "body worn cameras" to their jackets this festive season.
General manager Richard Pollock said the cameras had proved effective since they were first used last Friday night.
He added: "There was little or no trouble across the city this weekend but the door staff found them to be a useful back-up tool.
"If any trouble was to start, we think they would prove to be a worthwhile safety measure."
The body worn security device is a small camera attached to a screen worn by security staff on their jackets. The person who is being filmed can see their image on the small screen.
Victorias' participation in Strathclyde Police's trial of the gadget comes just a month after the nightclub won the Gold Standard at the Best Bar None awards.
The award recognised the venue's ongoing work to promote customer safety and responsible drinking.
Source: Staffs Live
A man has been sentenced for causing the death by dangerous driving of a doorman from Biddulph.
Aliu Adeyemo, 29, from Coventry, pleaded guilty to the charge at Birmingham Crown Court.
He was given a nine-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He was also made subject to a curfew between 7pm and 7am for six months.
Mr Churchman was injured in September 2002 when Adeyemo deliberately drove his car into a group of people outside the former Place nightclub in Bryan Street, Hanley.
He suffered serious head injuries and never fully recovered, and died at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in July 2008.
Adeyemo was convicted of grievous bodily harm in 2003 and sentenced to three years in prison.
Source: Northern Echo
Two men arrested on suspicion on manslaughter in connection with the death of a North-East doorman have been bailed.
A 34-year-old man, from Consett and a 33-year-old man, from nearby Blackhill, were held after the death of Peter Jopling.
Mr Jopling, 40, from Consett was working at Decades nightclub in the town centre in the early hours of Sunday morning when he collapsed and died.
Detectives said it followed a disturbance at the club in which two men were asked to leave the premises.
The men have bailed pending further enquiries until January 26.
A spokesman for Durham police said: "A post mortem on Peter Jopling was conducted on Monday but a formal cause of death has not yet been established.
"There are some further tests to be carried out and police need to obtain specialist medical advice in relation to certain findings from the PM.
"Police will be examining the CCTV footage from the club's cameras to see if this contains any useful footage, especially of the incident which happened outside the rear of the club at around 3.20am when two men were asked to leave the premises."
Mr Jopling, who was married to Gemma, was a father-of-three.
He had worked for Kelco Security at the Front Street nightspot for over six years.
Anyone with information is asked to ring the incident room on 0345-60-60-365 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.
Source: BBC News
A 28-year-old who tried to kill a doorman after he was ejected from a nightclub in Cambridgeshire has been jailed for 15 years.
Jack Smith, of Cambridge Road in St Neots, drove by Unique in the town and fired shots early on 18 December 2009, Cambridge Crown Court was told.
He denied attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent but was convicted following a trial.
The court heard the victim was hit by two pellets and made a full recovery.
Smith had been ejected from the club and returned a short while later, at just after midnight, in his BMW.
He pointed a shotgun out of the window and fired at two doormen, one of whom got a pellet lodged in his skull and another near his left ear, the court heard.
Source: The Mirror
A nightclub bouncer was "executed" in a professional hit after he fell out with doormen from another club.
Police believe Bogdan Gabriel Paduret, known as Tony, was gunned down in North London because of a "bouncer war".
Paduret, 29, a Romanian who was security chief at the exclusive Mayfair Club in London's West End, had fallen out with doormen at another London club.
He was being given a lift home just over a week ago when he was blasted four times in the head by someone who pulled alongside the car on a motorbike. DCI Jacqueline Sebire said: "This was a cold blooded and planned murder. Mr Paduret was without doubt targeted.
Another police source added. "This was a professional hit. We are looking at the bouncers but he also seems to have been busy with the ladies - so that is another line of inquiry."
His mother Maiana Paduret, who flew from Romania to identify her son's body, said: "He meant everything to me. Words cannot express how dearly he is going to be missed by all of us."
Source: Grimsby Telegraph
More doormen are being drafted into Grimsby Top Town pubs to make Christmas safer for revellers.
The preparations come in the wake of an assault outside The Friary pub, on Victoria Street, at 5.45pm on Sunday.
As reported, a 28-year-old man was critically injured, and three men are currently in police custody.
Toni MacNaught, of Lloyds, in Victoria Street, is the chairman of Grimsby PubWatch and said extra staff are being taken on in the run-up to Christmas to reassure customers the town's bars are safe.
She said: "The pubs in town usually take on more door staff before Christmas. They are taken on during weekdays and not just at weekends.
"We have had a couple of incidents over the past two months, but they are quite rare compared to how it was before.
"We have the radio link between most of the pubs and it works well."
Humberside Police has today appealed to anyone who witnessed the assault outside The Friary to come forward.
Source: SIA
An open letter from Bill Butler, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority.
Our organisation is funded by those who hold our licences and I want to ensure that you are kept properly informed on the future of the SIA. I am writing to tell you about the future of regulation for the private security industry in the United Kingdom and how you can stay in touch with what is happening.
In October, the Government announced that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) would no longer be an NDPB (Non-Departmental Public Body) and there will be a phased transition to a new regulatory regime for the private security industry. What that means is the SIA will change from its current set up, but that the private security industry throughout the UK will continue to be regulated.
The Government has asked the SIA to lead the security industry in setting up a new system of regulation, and that is what we are now working towards.
I know you would like more information about the Government's plans for future regulation, particularly the dates when changes will take place. At this time, I cannot give you that level of detail, but we are working with colleagues in government and the security industry to plan how the private security sectors in the UK will be regulated in the future.
The new regulation will build on the successes of SIA licensing and our Approved Contractor Scheme. Getting things right takes time, and because of this, ministers have said that there will not be any major changes to SIA regulation or the Approved Contractor Scheme before the London Olympics 2012.
The Government has made it clear that regulation of the private security industry will remain in place. It is important that everyone in the security sectors, especially those whose SIA licences are coming up for renewal, understand that the Private Security Industry Act 2001 remains law. It is a criminal offence for security operatives and those deploying them, to work in licensable activities without a valid SIA licence. The SIA and our partners will continue to ensure that the law is properly enforced.
Some of you will be approaching the time to renew your SIA licence, or you may be considering applying for your first licence. I want to assure you that it is my intention to protect the investment you have made in training and your SIA licence. I do not want to see you lose out or be disadvantaged under a new system of regulation.
As the new arrangements for regulation are developed, it is essential that we hear your views and understand your concerns. I want everyone who holds a licence to have the opportunity to share their opinions with us. When the time is right, I will seek your views through our many communication channels, but I urge you now to keep in touch with us and be informed. If you are a licence holder it is a condition of the licence that you tell us when you change address, but it also helps us keep in contact with you.
We have a new section on our website called Future of Regulation where you can read about the latest developments and see a list of frequently asked questions and answers about the future of regulation. To keep in touch with us, visit our website where you can sign-up to receive our regular electronic newsletters, or why not follow us on Twitter (SIAuk) or on Facebook (Security Industry Authority). Staying informed means you can make the right decisions about your future.
Bill Butler
SIA Chief Executive
Source: Lancashire Telegraph
Pub checks carried out in Bury found the vast majority of door staff are working legally.
The operation, carried out by officers from Greater Manchester Police with support from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), found only one person in breach of licence conditions.
A total of 27 staff were inspected and 26 operatives held valid SIA licences. However, police officers ordered home one door supervisor who was found working with a photocopy of his licence.
SIA head of investigation Neil Diamond said: “I am pleased with these results. Door staff can help to play a role in maintaining the public’s safety, so it is important that they are SIA-licensed.
“However, I remind operatives that it is a breach of licence conditions and a criminal offence not to display their licence card.”
Inspector Charlotte Cadden, of the Bury East Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “It is important that all people who are employed on the doors of licensed premises in Bury work with a valid licence and within conditions of the licence issued by the SIA.
“We will continue to work with partners such as the SIA to ensure that Bury town centre remains a safe and enjoyable place to socialise and visit during the evening.
“Since April 1 this year, there have been 20 fewer incidents of violence in the town centre compared to the same period last year and we are determined to reduce this figure even further.”
Source: Express & Star
A club-goer has walked free from court after being cleared of trying to shoot dead two bouncers at a Black Country nightclub in an alleged row over a hat.
Defendant Ruben Campbell, aged 20, gave a thumbs up and repeatedly thanked jurors as they left court after clearing him of being the gunman who opened fire at the Envoy nightclub at Brierley Hill’s waterfront.
Prosecutors had claimed that Campbell fired a revolver twice at the head of bouncer Daniel Johnson, missing him on both occasions.
Campbell was also alleged to have fired at bouncer Kenneth Bain, who tried to restrain him. The trial heard claims that a row was triggered as Campbell was repeatedly asked to remove his baseball cap at the club early on January 16 this year.
But he said he “ran for his life” when he heard the gunshots while he was waiting at the bar.
A witness denied in court that he had told Campbell to remove the cap.
He was cleared of two charges of attempted murder as well as firearms charges. Jurors were not told he was awaiting sentencing for punching a taxi driver in a row over a fare on November 5 last year. The taxi driver fell back into his cab with a fractured jaw and was unconscious for five minutes, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told yesterday.
Judge John Warner, who presided over the attempted murder trial, sentenced Campbell to 16 months for wounding the taxi driver. Campbell had admitted the charge.
Mr Gurdip Garrcha, defending, said Campbell should be able to walk free immediately as he had already spent around nine months on remand waiting for the case to be heard.
He had been at Brinsford but was transferred to the maximum security Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes because of allegations of gang links. Referring to the taxi driver case, Judge
Warner said: “The offence was particularly unpleasant. Taxi drivers are entitled to go about their business without people attacking them, still less causing them the sort of injury you caused here.”
Judge Warner said: “My intention is that he should be released from court today.”
Detective Inspector Nigel Smith, from Dudley CID, said: “We respect the findings of the court.
“We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident at Envoy.”
Envoy closed down after the shooting, when council bosses mounted a bid to revoke its licence. It is currently unoccupied.
Source: Morning Advertiser
The Government believes the time is right to give the private security industry more responsibility for regulating itself, in the wake of the Security Industry Authority being axed.
The statement came in a letter from Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone to Michael Kheng of Lincolnshire-based operator Kurnia, winner of the award for most responsible pub company at the 2010 Responsible Drinks Retailing Awards.
The Government announced last month the SIA, which issues doorstaff licences, would be phased out after the 2012 Olympics.
“The private security industry has matured in the six years since SIA regulation began in England and Wales,” she said. “We believe the time is now right to give the private security industry more responsibility for regulating itself and to do this through a phased transition to a new regulatory regime.”
“The full details of this have not yet been decided, but we propose that employers in the security industry should take responsibility for making their own recruitment decisions, in the same way as the employers of other professions.
“There are a number of security industry bodies that are in a position to contribute and we are already working with the industry to ensure a smooth transition to the new regulatory regime.
“We are also working with other key stakeholders including the police, local authorities and other law enforcement agencies to strengthen their relationships with the security industry.”
Featherstone said that the SIA had been axed because “there was no evidence that the functions of the SIA needed to be performed by a public body ss it did not meet the three tests of performing a technical function, impartiality and establishing facts transparently”.
Concerns
Kheng said he had serious concerns about the future regulation of doorstaff. “The SIA was established six years ago for a reason and has brought about a dramatic change in the security industry.
“Why are they getting rid of it if it made a difference?”
There seem to be two options for the future of regulating doorstaff — a local authority-led regime or trade bodies such as Noctis and BII getting involved.
“I would imagine the trade bodies taking it on would be costly for them,” said Kheng. “And if each local authority has its own fees and training schedule then it could be a nightmare.”
Source: Birmingham Mail
Two bouncers needed hospital treatment after being set upon by a group of yobs in a Solihull nightspot.
Solihull Police have released CCTV images of men they’d like to speak to in connection with The Assembly Rooms attack which left the doormen with facial cuts and bruising.
The men had been reported to staff for throwing bottles around and spraying other customers with beer – but when they were asked to leave they became aggressive and lashed out at the bouncers.
The incident happened at around 1am on Sunday August 22 in the upstairs bar area.
PC Katie Morris from Solihull Police, said: “These men seemed intent on causing trouble: they were aggressive to other customers and when asked to leave the bar they lashed out.
“The doormen were both punched in the face several times and their injuries required hospital treatment.
“We believe there were three or four men involved in the fight – and we’re particularly keen to speak to the man seen in the black T-shirt who’s been described by witnesses as a ‘ring leader’.”
The man is described as white, in his late 20s, around 6ft 2ins tall, with short black hair which is spiky on top.
He was wearing a black T-shirt with distinctive on the front and sleeves and a long chain.
Anyone who thinks they recognise any of the men, or who has information about the assault, is urged to contact PC Katie Morris on 0345 113 5000 extension 7921 6585 or the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555111.
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Source: South Wales Evening News
Almost 1,000 fake IDs have been seized by door supervisors at city centre pubs and clubs this year.
The documents had been altered or borrowed by under-age revellers hoping to be admitted into clubs, but were discovered when examined by door staff.
The discovery of such a high number has been hailed as one of the successful initiatives by Swansea's community of door supervisors, who are preparing themselves for the busy Christmas period.
Steve Williams, night-time economy officer for Swansea city centre management team, said: "I would like to see more recognition of the good work door supervisors in Swansea do, because it often goes unnoticed in today's society.
"Door supervisors have a very difficult and dangerous role to undertake, and regularly have to deal with people fuelled with alcohol and drugs who are violent and abusive."
The recovery of so many false documents comes after a warning by the Safer Swansea Partnership last year, which said city centre businesses were facing increasing numbers of people using fake IDs.
Some are fake, have been tampered with, or are stolen, but a large number are ones that have been lent to under-18s.
More than 350 fake or stolen IDs had been seized in the final three and a half months of last year.
Next week, an event will be held for Swansea's door supervisors to discuss examples of good practice.
In addition to their vigilance for fake ID, other schemes to be discussed will be the wearing of high-visibility armbands to show their Security Industry Association (SIA) licences, which makes them more visible to members of the public and CCTV operators.
Speakers include representatives from South Wales Police, the Welsh Ambulance Service, the Security Industry Authority and Swansea's Street Pastor scheme.
Mr Williams added: "This event will celebrate some achievements over the past twelve months, and will focus on what we can do to improve the sector in Swansea by continuing to work in close partnership."
The meeting is in addition to the quarterly head door supervisor briefings held with police, where information about city centre schemes and news relevant to the industry are discussed.
It follows a survey conducted by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) of door supervisors at pubs and clubs across the UK, which revealed two-thirds of them have been violently attacked, and that 90 per cent of door supervisors working in the sector for more than five years have either been physically or verbally attacked.
Source: Morning Advertiser
Licensees, bar staff and doorstaff who’ve been attacked while at work have been urged to give feedback to the agency that’s reviewing sentencing guidelines.
National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker wants attackers to receive suitable penalties, following reports that many have been let off lightly.
“The Sentencing Council [which is consulting on sentencing guidelines] says it wants to hear from victims so my advice is this is an ideal time for them to talk about their experiences,” Baker said.
Executive member of pub managers’ union Licensees Unite, Dave Daly, said: “The system is letting our members down because the police seem too prepared to issue cautions instead of taking offenders to court.
“The police are very robust in their dealings with licensees but they are not meeting us half way and at the moment we are working in a one way street.”
Meanwhile, a nightclub boss and a licensee caught up in vicious attacks by “yob drinkers” have called for tougher penalties for drunken hooligans.
Club manager Dave Cooper of RBs club in Chester criticised police after a youth was cautioned after leaving one of his staff with a suspected broken jaw.
Coventry licensee Harry Parker, whose face was cut and bruised when a youth allegedly pushed a beer glass in his face, says tougher sentences are the only way to cut down assaults on staff.
Parker, of the Railway at Balsall, said he was attacked after asking four youths for ID and it was still unclear whether his alleged offender was to be charged.
Source: Express & Star
A nightclub bouncer has described the moment he was shot in the stomach in a bar.
Kenneth Bain recalled seeing two flashes of light and hearing loud bangs before feeling pain in his abdomen at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.
It is alleged Mr Bain was shot by Ruben Campbell at the Envoy bar at Dudley’s Waterfront at an event called Screamer on the night of January 15.
Campbell was 19 at the time and is said to have smuggled the revolver into the club and opened fire following a row over a baseball cap. Mr Bain, who had only worked at the club for a month, told the court: “All I can remember is two flashes and a mass pile on. I remember grabbing hold of someone and then feeling a pain in my stomach.
“I was shook up quite a bit.”
However, despite picking Campbell out as the person who shot him in a video identity parade, Mr Bain told the court he was not sure it was in fact Campbell who pulled the trigger.
He said he had been shaken when he made his original statement to the police hours after the shooting. “I’m not going to send someone to prison I’m not 100 per cent sure about,” he said.
During the hearing, Mr Bain said that the club’s dress code dictated that clubbers should not wear caps and that he told Campbell several times to remove his hat.
Just before the shooting the same cap was being worn by a girl standing next to Campbell, now 20, and another bouncer, Daniel Johnson, removed it from her head and the shooting followed. Mr Bainwas rushed to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley. In a statement read out in court, Mr Bain admitted: “Whilst on the way to hospital I honestly thought I was going to die.”
Campbell, now 20, of Westgate Close, Sedgley, denies attempting to murder the two bouncers and possession of the firearm.
Yesterday Mr Stephen Thomas, prosecuting, had opened the case against Campbell by stating the cap had been “the catalyst for the trouble”.
He told the jury Campbell had fired two shots at bouncer Daniel Johnson but missed.
The trial continues.
Source: Morning Advertiser
By Paul Chase
That is the question! I’m referring here to the Coalition Government’s plans to axe the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and introduce a ‘phased transition to a new regulatory system’.
You can almost hear the legendary Sir Humphrey’s soothing voice, “Yes minister, of course” — whilst inwardly thinking “Change? Change? Aren’t things bad enough already?”
In this instance Sir Humphrey might just be right, given that the Government doesn’t have a clue about what this ‘new regulatory system’ will look like, people may be forgiven for preferring the devil they know.
But Sir Humphrey is a cunning old bird, skilled in the art of delay, and has clearly been hard at work. I hear that the ‘phased transition’ will not see the actual demise of the SIA until at least 2014 – after we’ve got the Olympics and then the Commonwealth Games out of the way. Well, anything could happen between now and 2014, including a General Election, so don’t bank on the SIA going just yet.
If the SIA goes, what should replace it? I see already that various organisations are jockeying for position to run a ‘slimmed-down’ version of the SIA – particularly for the regulation of door supervision.
At £245 per licence application (renewals every three years) they see it as a potential money-spinner. The SIA itself is apparently mooting the possibility that organisations with ‘trusted partner status’, such as qualification awarding bodies, might get licence granting powers.
I cannot think of a more silly idea. Yes, door supervisors, and other security personnel, have to pass a ‘licence to practise’ qualification, but are awarding bodies going to apply the criminality criteria and operate a licence appeals procedure? That surely goes well beyond their remit.
‘Localism’ is back in fashion, but no one wants to go back to an unregulated door security sector, nor to the patchwork quilt of each council operating its own licensing scheme.
But applications for personal licences (for people authorising the sale of alcohol) are already processed by local councils, on the basis of national training and criminality criteria set by the DCMS.
A licence granted locally, but which enables the holder to work nationally delivers total portability. This could be the model for the licensing of door supervisors, and other security personnel, and could provide a source of income for cash-strapped councils.
That would leave the future of the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) as the only issue to be decided. ACS is basically ISO 9000 with bells on, so there should be no lack of organisations willing to take it on – the British Security Industry Association perhaps?
But all this speculation on my part presumes that government will actually carry through its proposal to axe the SIA. Will it do so? My money’s on Sir Humphrey.
Paul Chase, Director and Head of UK Compliance, CPL Training
Source: The Publican
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is not expected to be dismantled until after the 2012 Olympics, according to the body’s chief executive.
Concerns were raised about the future of doorstaff regulation after the coalition announced it planned to scrap the SIA.
But industry representatives met last week, after a request from the government, to discuss the transition to a new “regulatory regime”.
“Work and planning will be underway immediately, but it is not expected that any significant changes will take place before the Olympics in 2012,” said SIA chief executive Bill Butler.
“The phased transition to the new regime will then take place. Subject to agreement, the transition could then be completed by 2014.”
The SIA released a statement saying a “framework for the future” will be developed in the coming months, which will then be presented to ministers “early next year”. Another stakeholder meeting will be held in the New Year.
Butler added: “There is now much to be done, and the next step will be for the SIA to establish initial arrangements to work with the industry and stakeholders, including the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland.”
Together, the BII and Noctis are bidding to fill the void that will be left by the SIA to ensure a “robust” national scheme stays in place.
SIA chairman Ruth Henig added: “We welcome the efforts made so far by the industry to inform the debate and to come together with the SIA to develop and ensure a smooth transition to the new regulatory regime.”
Source: Morning Advertiser
National Pubwatch is calling for tougher sentencing guidelines to ensure people who assault licensees, pub staff or doorstaff receive appropriate penalties.
Chairman Steve Baker made the plea in a Sentencing Council consultation on guidelines for courts, amid concerns that thugs who attack licensees are being let off lightly.
He said: “deliberately causing harm when denied entry to a licensed premises or the purchase of alcohol” should be considered an aggravating factor.
“Many assaults on pub, bar and door staff take place as a result of the offender being denied access to licensed premises, or refused sale of alcohol,” Baker said.
“Dealing with such individuals can be extremely difficult, as they may attempt to intimidate or lash out.”
He said it was not unreasonable that those who must comply with “stringent” regulations on alcohol sales “should be protected from people who try and circumvent the law, even if the offence is not premeditated”.
Trauma
Baker called for greater understanding of how attacks affect their victims, highlighting the trauma of hosts who are subjected to “minor assaults”.
He also urged greater consistency in how assaults are categorised, and cautioned against putting too much emphasis on younger offenders’ lack of maturity.
He cited licensee Ray Sutton, who was attacked by a 17-year-old he had refused to serve. The offender received an out-of-court disposal.
Baker asked: “If that young person was to appear in court for another assault, should his youth and lack of maturity be considered a factor when he has already had the opportunity to reflect on his offending behaviour?”
Balance
He urged “flexibility and balance” when sentencing people with mental illness, so that public safety wasn’t compromised.
The submission included National Pubwatch’s DVD, which features interviews with licensees who feel the people who attacked them were dealt with too softly, as part of its Court Not Caution campaign.
The consultation closes on 5 January.
Source: Leicester Mercury
An attacker who stamped on, kicked and punched a doorman while he was on the ground has been jailed for two years.
The victim was knocked unconscious and suffered bruises to his head as well as damaged teeth.
Dean Finnemore launched the attack when he saw the bouncer throwing his friend out of Yates's Wine Lodge, in Belvoir Street, in the city centre.
He set upon the victim, who was grappling with Finnemore's friend on the ground outside the pub, at 11pm on August 30.
CCTV footage of the incident was shown at Leicester Crown Court yesterday.
Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said the incident began when three girls were involved in a fight in the bar.
Finnemore's friend became involved and was then removed by the doorman. Finnemore followed.
Mr Murphy said: "The defendant can be seen aiming several kicks and stamps towards the victim's head and throwing punches."
The footage showed Finnemore and his friend making off as the victim lay on the ground.
When the police arrived they used pepper spray to restrain Finnemore nearby.
In interview he said he had drunk 10 bottles of lager and claimed he had been trying to stop the violence – but after being shown the footage he admitted the attack. The victim has since returned to his homeland of Hungary, and is training to become a police officer.
Sentencing, Judge Charles Wide QC, said: "Any thought of simply defending your friend was very quickly abandoned and it quickly turned into an attack by you repeatedly using your feet as weapons, kicking and stamping over and over again.
"You were also punching this man when he was lying defenceless on the ground. "People using their feet in this way, especially towards vulnerable areas, such as the head are committing a very serious offence.
"This is your seventh offence of violence against the person to go before a court."
Finnemore, 28, of Mossgate, New Parks, admitted causing actual bodily harm and also breaching a conditional discharge for harassment.
James Bide-Thomas, mitigating, said: "There's no justification for what can be seen on the CCTV footage.
"It's clear that behaviour is totally and utterly unacceptable and he is deeply sorry."
He said there was another side to Finnemore, who has done voluntary work and mentored young people at the New Parks Boxing Gym.
References described him as reliable, trustworthy and responsible.
Mr Bide-Thomas said Finnemore had also sought counselling to help deal with the way he handles stressful and difficult situations.
He said he had initially gone to his friend's assistance.
Source: The Publican
Trade bodies hope to persuade the Home Office they can administer a national scheme for doorstaff
Two trade bodies are bidding to run a national doorstaff scheme, after major fears were raised over the scrapping of the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
The BII and Noctis have joined forces in bid to persuade the Home Office they can fill the void when the SIA is dismantled.
Last week the government confirmed the SIA was being “phased out”, as part of a move dubbed a “Bonfire of the Quangos”.
Thousands of pubs employ doorstaff and some fear an unregulated industry will lead to cowboys returning to the sector.
Michael Kheng, who runs five outlets in Lincolnshire, said: “Without correct regulation the dark old days of the bouncer may just return, and nobody within the industry wants that.”
But Neil Robertson, the BII’s chief executive, sought to reassure licensees. “We are not going back to the bad old days,” he said.
“We don’t care about the SIA, but we do want a robust, national scheme and we are pressing the government on this point.
“We are saying get rid of the quango, but not the service.”
It is understood the BII and Noctis have made it clear to the Home Office they would be willing to take on the role of the SIA, potentially with help from other bodies.
The BII already offers a national door supervisor qualification. And Robertson suggested a “buying club” could be set up so operators only hire doorstaff from legitimate firms.
Paul Smith, Noctis’ executive director, said: “We are looking at presenting a credible option to the government that would be more affordable and more accountable.”
He added: “What we don’t want is the expense of the SIA.”
Currently an SIA licence costs individual doorstaff £245, which Smith argued was “too much” and suggested it had knock-on effects in making doorstaff more expensive for venues.
He suggested if Noctis and BII took over, the system would be self-funding.
However, it is likely the Home Office is looking at other bids from groups keen to step into the breach.
But the fear is the government could decide to hand regulation down to local authorities. Smith warned leaving councils to their own devices could lead to a lack of “uniformity” in the system.
Meanwhile, the Home Office and SIA have stressed it remains a criminal offence to employ unlicensed doorstaff or to operate without an SIA licence.
The maximum penalty for using unlicensed staff is five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
A statement on the SIA website said: “The government has announced a phased transition to a new regulatory regime.
However, this will take some time to put into place. Until that time, the current law continues to apply.”
Quangos, including the SIA, can only be scrapped once the Public Bodies Bill, has been passed in Parliament.
However, the SIA is due to be kept as a public body in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Source: Huddersfield Examiner
An illegal immigrant who left a Huddersfield club doorman with a “permanent disfigurement” after a knife attack has been jailed.
Roy Scott, 31, stabbed Edward Nowell after being thrown out of Legends nightclub on Viaduct Street.
He is likely to be deported after serving a sentence of four years and nine months for one charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one of possessing a knife.
Jailing him, Recorder Carl Gumsley, said: “The public is sick of people putting them at risk by carrying knives. When knives are carried, it may not be the intention of those carrying them to use them, but when an incident happens it’s all too easy to do as you did and cause serious and permanent disfigurement.”
Bradford Crown Court heard it was Mr Nowell’s first night working at Legends when Scott, who was living at Tanfield Road in Birkby, turned up at about 2.30am with a wooden-handled lock-knife hidden in his underwear.
He walked straight into the club without paying and avoided the door staff who were frisking customers for knives.
Prosecutor Ben Crosland told the court that, after being ordered to stop, Scott told the bouncers: “F*** off, don’t touch me.”
He was found in the smoking area and was told to leave.
Mr Crosland said Scott replied: “F*** off, do you know who I am? I’m a big drug dealer.”
The bouncers then threw him out of the club.
An argument erupted and Scott tried to push past Mr Nowell to get back in.
Mr Crosland said: “The defendant was being very confrontational and aggressive, repeatedly pushing into the complainant. The complainant noticed the defendant putting his hands behind his back. He heard someone making reference to a knife.
“The defendant said: ‘Do you want some?’”
Mr Nowell eventually shoved Scott to the ground and ordered him to leave the area.
Mr Crosland said: “The defendant then lunged forward and struck the complainant on the right side of his stomach.”
Scott was then pinned down by one of the other bouncers until police arrived.
Mr Nowell did not realise the extent of his injuries until he lifted up his shirt.
He was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for treatment to a 7cm wound.
He was released from hospital five days later and had since returned to work, Mr Crosland said.
Chudi Grant, mitigating, said it was a “moment of madness”.
He added: “It truly was an impulsive and reckless action committed in quite particular circumstances.”
The court heard Scott, who had a previous conviction for threatening an ex-partner with a knife during an assault, was an “over-stayer” in the UK, meaning his right to be in the country had run out.
Source: Morning Advertiser
The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which regulates the licensing of door staff, is to be phased out with licensing transferred to a new regulatory regime.
It emerged last month that the future of the SIA was under threat as the Government looked to cut costs on quangos and today it confirmed the SIA would see a “phased transition to new regulatory regime” — although no further details are currently available on what the new regime might be or how long such a transition would take.
Paul Smith, director of bar and club trade body Noctis, said that the Government could transfer door staff licensing to local authorities or establish a self-funding national body to oversee the process.
"The worry is that there will be no new regime and that will undo a lot of the good work that has been done in making door staff professional.
"Our message to the Government is you can't do nothing. You need to find a solution."
Noctis is in discussions with the Government over the issue and would prefer a national scheme rather than one at local level.
"At local level, you can no move your badge and there is no uniform national standard. It may be a cheap solution to pass on to local authorities but whether it is a decent solution remains to be seen."
Smith argued a lean self-financing national body could be established and be based in the North West. "It never made sense to me why the SIA was based in central London with the high rents.
"Most of its dealings are with the Criminal records Bureau, which is in Liverpool."
He added: "It is a very serious situation and the continuation of registration of door staff is absolutely crucial."
Although industry leaders have criticised the SIA in the past for its red tape and agreed it could drastically reduce costs, most believe it has a place in the industry and has heavily contributed to the professionalisation of door staff.
“Abolishing the Security Industry Authority is wrong. It will hit decent employers, it will expose the public to unnecessary risks and will undoubtedly end in tears and in the courts,” said Paul Kenny of the GMB trade union.
“Is the Government saying that it is OK for crooks, drug dealers and those convicted of criminal assaults to set up and run security companies?”
Source: Daily Gazette
Michael Herlihy runs one of the biggest security companies in this part of Essex – providing door staff for some of the major nightspots – so I see a side of Colchester life which some might prefer not to.
But I’m proud of this town. I think it’s a great place to live, so why are people so down on Colchester?
Here’s an example.
When we were in the news over the summer for applying to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Independent newspaper called it “audacious” to compare ourselves to the pyramids or Stonehenge.
They weren’t as rude as the Guardian, who said our town centre at night looked like a “documentary on Britain’s Binge Drinking Hell”. I don’t think that’s anything like fair.
I know what you’re thinking. I shouldn’t read the Guardian.
But it’s not just them. People here call Queen Street “Kebab Alley”, as if it’s some sort of no-go area.
It has its problems, but I think that’s an unfair tag. In fact, I’m working with Osman Rasih, who owns the Silk Road Lounge Bar, to revitalise that part of town. We’re approaching every business along there to offer our services – working together to make it a safer, cleaner and a nicer place to be at night.
The easy option would be to ignore it, or to reduce licensing hours. But if you’re proud of your town and want it to be at its best, you’ve got to be practical.
If you cut licensing hours, you don’t get rid of the problems, you just bring them forward an hour or two.
The night-time economy is an important part of life here – and a vital part of any local economy.
If we cut opening hours or try to shut places down, we deprive the people who work there of their livelihoods.
Some of the businesses along here struggle as it is – and this is a time when we all want to see the economy growing. That’s why Osman and I are working on this taskforce.
We know the area’s not perfect, but we don’t think it deserves its current reputation – and we believe we can turn it around. The local police have given us their blessing.
In fact, this all came about after a meeting with them to discuss the licensing hours at the Silk Road. The police and the crime reduction partnership want to reduce drinking-up times, and call this a “stress area”.
Antisocial behaviour is a serious thing, and any incident which disturbs people living nearby – in Priory Street, for example – is one too many.
But I don’t believe Queen Street is anything like busy enough to justify the “stress area” tag. I think it’s another example of us talking the town down.
So, this is my manifesto, if you like. Most town centres see a bit of noise and rowdiness at night. I don’t think ours is any different.
In other words, I don’t think it’s better or worse. But it’s not perfect, and together we can do something about it. My role is to work professionally with these local businesses and their customers, and have my trained, licensed team on the streets later – until 4.30am – that’s what’s needed.
The businesses need to play their part by working with us to make sure everybody plays the game – alerting us to any potential problems before they have a chance to escalate.
My employees are trained in customer service and conflict management – we know how to bring situations to a halt with the minimum of hassle for all involved.
And everybody else? Well, being proud of where you live means taking responsibility – and that means everyone who eats or drinks in town at night thinking about their actions.
In New York in the Nineties, they cracked down on minor problems like graffiti and saw a significant drop in overall crime.
So let’s work together and recognise this is a great place to live. It’s still a fairly small town, with a real sense of community.
Let’s acknowledge when it’s not perfect, and pledge to make it better. But let’s believe in the place, too.
The oldest town in England? Let’s make it the envy of England.
Source: By Peter Coulson - Morning Advertiser
The threatened removal of the SIA as one of the quangos now under scrutiny for effectiveness by the current Government is not really surprising, given its turbulent and sometimes erratic past.
But if the coalition does decide to wind it up, there are many who will feel rather uneasy about the future for door supervision.
Whether you think it was well-handled or not (and I am one of the chief critics of the whole introductory process, which was appallingly managed) the fact remains that licensing of doorstaff is now an important safety element to ensure that the public is in safe hands.
To suggest that everything is now so well-organised that the industry can police itself is scarcely credible. You would have to be blind and deaf to think that the dubious elements that made regulation necessary have disappeared for good — any more than it can be true of the gambling industry.
While self-regulation has to some extent worked there, the Gambling Commission and the police still have their work cut out to remove the fringe elements who, for example, run illegal gaming syndicates or operate unlicensed machines.
Without some form of supervision and control, who is to say that the same problems will not re-occur in security circles?
Also, the removal of an established licensing system, which, with the roll-out of the Northern Ireland sector, now covers the whole of the UK, moves the problem on to hard-pressed and budget-slashed local authorities, not to mention the police. This is not to say they cannot handle it, but it is just one more administrative burden to bear, which could mean the dilution of effort in other areas.
The other losers in this might be the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), which has spent a great deal of time and energy in putting together security-based programmes and examinations.
If the licensing system moves to councils, or the industry, where does this leave its package, at a time when, quite frankly, it is under some economic pressure?
But if the SIA is under threat of extinction, it probably recognises that it does not have the greatest pedigree.
From the start, under Molly Meacher, it managed to antagonise the licensed trade and started sabre-rattling far too early, but got its comeuppance at the end of 2007 when it was clear that it had failed to check the right to work in the UK of up to 20,000 doorstaff.
At that time I called for heads to roll, but I little realised that less than three years later all their heads would be on the block together!
Changes
If the licensing system is dismantled, of course, there is yet another amendment to the Licensing Act to be made, because SIA licensing for doorstaff is an integral part of that system.
But if the current Government goes ahead with its sweeping changes this autumn, that is just another part of the overall plan. In any event, if licensing is retained for local authorities, the doormen will simply swap one regime for another, although a centralised system seems far more sensible for this type of operation.
One thing is for sure — the hiring of doorstaff will not get any cheaper or easier as a result of the abolition of the SIA and it is the licensed trade that once again will have no direct say in the decision and will have to wrestle with the consequences.
But as this Government has clearly indicated that it has little time for, or interest in, the views of those who run pubs, that is hardly surprising.
Source: Hunts Post
A man who was ejected from a St Neots nightclub later returned and tried to kill a doorman.
Jack Smith, of St Neots, was removed from Unique Night Club and Bar in South Street, at just after midnight on December 18 last year after getting involved in an argument.
He returned a short while later in his BMW, pointed a shotgun out of the window and fired a shot towards two doormen.
Two pellets hit one of the doormen, 52-year-old Christopher Tann, one lodging in his skull behind his hairline and the other around his left ear. He was treated at hospital and made a full recovery.
On Wednesday (October 6) Smith was found guilty of attempted murder at Cambridge Crown Court.
He had denied the offence but was convicted following a trial that started on September 27 and will be sentenced at the same court on October 29.
The court earlier heard that Smith had fled the scene following the shooting. However, his BMW triggered an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) machine operated by Thames Valley Police near Banbury on December 21.
The ANPR indicated he was driving without insurance but officers also realised he was wanted for the Cambridgeshire offence.
DC Derek Cornhill, from Huntingdon serious crime team, said: “Smith denied the charge and claimed he merely wanted to frighten the door staff but this was not accepted by the court. This was a serious offence which could easily have killed the victim and it is only luck that most of the pellets from the shotgun hit the nightclub’s doors.”
Source: Yorkshire Post
Bar and nightclub owners in South Yorkshire have called for a quango which licenses door staff to be protected from the axe after rogue security workers were found operating illegally.
The Security Industry Authority, which vets nightclub bouncers and security guards, has carried out a series of spot checks on premises in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham.
Officers revealed yesterday that two security staff were found operating illegally in Rotherham, and added there was "cause for concern" over venues in Sheffield and Barnsley.
The SIA was recently named as one of 170 quangos, many of which were set up by the previous Labour government, which face the axe under new plans to cut the public deficit.
But last night trade body Noctis, which represents bars and nightclubs in the region, said abolition of the SIA could signal a return to the bad practice which once dogged the industry.
Executive director Paul Smith said Noctis members included Brook Leisure, which owns Sheffield superclub Embrace and Doncaster's Trilogy, and national nightclub giant Luminar.
Mr Smith said members were supportive of SIA checks on their premises and wanted to ensure that the work continued, despite the fees charged by the authority for licences.
He added: "To venues undoubtedly there is an additional cost of licensing, but before the SIA there was a perception, and in some cases a reality, of illegality of operations.
"The establishment of the SIA has helped to legitimise the industry and made the whole sector more professional. We are very supportive of that skill and professionalism.
"It is vitally important that we have registered door staff because we have seen significant improvements in the last five to 10 years and our members are worried that could be reversed.
"I am pretty fearful that we will return to the darker days of the industry unless a register is maintained, either by the SIA or by some other means, and that would be a shame."
The Rotherham security staff were caught out during an operation carried out by SIA staff last Thursday. Random inspections took place at 69 premises and 227 staff were checked.
Those found without a licence face a maximum of six months in prison, a fine of £5,000 or both. Premises owners can also be prosecuted for employing unlicensed staff.
Speaking about the operation, the SIA's head of investigation Nigel Davies said: "It is reassuring that levels of compliance remain high. However, it is also of concern that a small number of individuals remain, who believe that they can flout the law and work unlicensed.
"We will continue to undertake these random compliance inspections and will take action against anyone found offending."
The SIA was set up as a result of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 and its officials say it is now largely self-funded through the charges its levies for its licences and other work.
Government officials have refused to confirm that the authority is under threat, but a memo leaked from the department last week appeared to show that its future was in doubt.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government is committed to making substantial reforms of its public bodies to increase accountability and reduce their number and cost.
"All departments are working with the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to assess our public bodies and ensure they perform an essential role which has to be carried out by Government and cannot be provided more efficiently elsewhere.
"No final decision has been made and we expect to make an announcement in due course."
Source: Morning Advertiser
Home Office minister James Brokenshire has urged operators to accept PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) cards as ID for alcohol sales.
He said use of the cards does represent due diligence on behalf of the operator.
It follows recent reports that authorities in some areas have been reluctant to recognise the cards.
It's also been reported that doorstaff have been reluctant to accept PASS.
Brokenshire said: “The Government wholeheartedly supports the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS), and would encourage all retailers to accept it as proof of age.
"Young people are rightly concerned about taking their passport with them on a night out, due to the risk of theft or loss, and they require a reliable document in order to prove their entitlement to purchase age-restricted goods.
"I am keen to reassure retailers that accepting a PASS hologram card which carries the bearers image and acceptable date of birth is due diligence, and can be accepted with confidence.”
PASS chairman Robert Humphreys said: “This unambiguous clarification from the minister is most welcome and helpful.
"Retailers and their employees, including most especially door staff, should take comfort from it, and those who have felt any lingering doubt about whether or not they should accept cards bearing the PASS hologram can set them aside.
“The overwhelming majority of refusals of genuine PASS-hologrammed cards offered by young people who are of age to buy alcohol are by doorstaff, so I urge the trade to take this message to heart and to ensure that such employees are properly and fully trained to recognise and accept PASS cards.
"A third of the UK’s 18 and 19 year-olds do not have passports or driving licences anyway, and many are keen to become your customers.”
Source: SIA
The SIA, along with all other arms-length public bodies is subject to a review to determine whether we should continue to fulfil our current responsibilities.
This review is being conducted centrally and across government. This is a decision for the Government and we cannot comment on speculation.
We will continue to fulfil our duties under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 and the current law applies: any person undertaking licensable activities must hold and display a valid SIA licence. All ACS terms and conditions continue to apply.
The Home Office has issued the following statement:
"The Government is committed to making substantial reforms of its public bodies to increase accountability and reduce their number and cost.
"All departments are working with the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to assess our public bodies and ensure they perform an essential role which has to be carried out by Government and cannot be provided more efficiently elsewhere.
"No final decision has been made and we expect to make an announcement in due course."
Source: Morning Advertiser
Bar and club trade body Noctis has warned scrapping the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which licences door staff, could herald a return to the “dark old days” of unregulated bouncers.
The Home Office confirmed that the future of the SIA is under review but that no final decision had yet been made.
The Home Office is said to believe that scrapping the SIA may help to reduce regulation, save security firms money and that the industry may now be mature enough to police itself.
Although the SIA is largely self-financing, it received £17.4m in extra public funding in 2008 due to administration problems and “poor forecasting” of licensing demands.
Paul Smith, executive director at Noctis, said he was not surprised by the move but urged the Government to keep the SIA in some form. “The SIA has considerable costs attached to it and could be a much leaner organisation,” he said.
“The costs of the SIA have a had a bearing on how much licences are.
“For example, why does it need to be based in central London? I have never understood that. We have done very well as a trade body based in Greater Manchester.
“It is not a lean organisation. I think there could be cost cutting but it is important we keep the SIA, or a a similar body, to licence door staff.”
Shady reputation
Smith said without a regulatory body, he feared a return to the “dark days” of unregulated bouncers with shady reputations rather than professional door staff who have completed training courses.
“The Government should not take a short term view on this. Costs could be cut but we could still keep the SIA. To take away all the good work done would be a real shame.
“It would be detrimental to the industry and its reputation.”
Michael Kheng of the Kurnia Group added: "The industry needs to be regulated to a national not regional standard.
"Although in the early days I was sceptical about the role of the SIA I am now a supporter of the SIA. The industry has changed for the better and we need to ensure that it remains that way."
Efficiency
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Government is committed to making substantial reforms of its public bodies to increase accountability and reduce their number and cost.
“All departments are working with the Cabinet Office and treasury to assess our public bodies and ensure they perform an essential role which has to be carried out by Government and cannot be provided more efficiently elsewhere.
“No final decision has been made and we expect to make an announcement in due course.”
Source: BBC News
The Home Office is preparing to scrap the body which regulates bouncers and other security workers across the UK.
The Security Industry Authority has been placed under the axe as part of a wider plan to cut the number and cost of public bodies.
Abolishing the SIA will not save taxpayers money because it is largely self-financing, but a Home Office document, seen by the BBC, suggests the move would save security firms money and contribute to "reducing burdensome regulation".
The document suggests the industry has matured enough to police itself.
A Home Office spokesman said no final decision had been made but the department expected to "make an announcement in due course".
The spokesman added: "The government is committed to making substantial reforms of its public bodies to increase accountability and reduce their number and cost.
"All departments are working with the cabinet office and treasury to assess our public bodies and ensure they perform an essential role which has to be carried out by government and cannot be provided more efficiently elsewhere."
Some industry figures are worried that scrapping formal regulation could have a negative effect.
Russel Kerr, managing director of SecuriGroup, an SIA approved contractor in Glasgow said: "It may knock us back 10 years. There's a danger also that the serious and organised crime element would find it easier to get themselves re-established."
Private security has always had a shadowy reputation, with some firms linked to drug dealing, money laundering and extortion.
The SIA was tasked with reducing crime and improving standards in the industry.
It licences bouncers, in-store guards, CCTV operators and other qualified security workers who pass background checks.
There are almost 350,000 security workers with valid licences across the UK.
Regulation began in 2003 in England and Wales and was extended to Scotland in 2007 and to Northern Ireland in 2009.
Source: Info4Security
National Doorwatch chairman Ian Fox has written to the Oxford English Dictionary and asked for the term ‘Bouncer’ to be removed. Here, Brian Sims explains why.
Ian Fox – the hard-working and totally dedicated chairman of National Doorwatch – has written to the Oxford English Dictionary’s publisher (the Oxford University Press) and requested the term ‘Bouncer’ as a description of door supervisors be removed.
“This term is anachronistic, inappropriate and downright offensive to the new, modern, highly regulated profession of door supervision,” said Fox in conversation with SMT Online.
“It’s used to demean and give a negative stereotype of the hard-working men and women who are regularly called upon to deal with extremely challenging situations, many of which are predominantly alcohol and drug-related.”
As far as Fox is concerned, the continued use of the term ‘Bouncer’ in the media not only fuels this stereotype but also serves to place not only door supervisors’ Health & Safety at risk, but also that of the general public.
National Doorwatch meeting in Leicester
The move follows a meeting at the De Montfort Halls in Leicester last Tuesday at which Bill Butler (the SIA’s chief executive) was in attendance – along with 50 individuals including door staff, stewards and local police – to answer the questions door supervisors wanted to ask.
Those door supervisors travelled from all over the county and also included Doorwatch members from Coventry, Derby, and Nottingham.
At the gathering the police commander for Leicester City Centre, Inspector Jason Ross, said it was really important that this kind of meeting took place, and hoped the formation of a local Doorwatch could provide the platform for improved communications, between all those working in the night-time economy.
It was then over to Bill Butler, who stated there had been far too many promises of “jam tomorrow” for door supervisors which may have been beyond the legislative control and remit of the Regulator.
Acknowledging some of the earlier problems, Butler explained that, as is the case for all new organisations, there had been a steep learning curve at the SIA and, if regulation were to ‘start again’, with the benefit of hindsight they would likely do some things differently.
Clear value in the door supervisor role
Butler made it clear that he values highly the role door supervisors play in the night-time economy, and that it was wrong door supervisors should have to face what in any other profession would be a totally unacceptable level of violence.
A level of violence, in fact, which has seen over 60% of door supervisors physically assaulted at one time or another. That’s according to research commissioned by the SIA itself.
Butler then took questions from the audience, those that had been submitted via e-mail and also sent in by the many door supervisors who were unable to attend on the night.
These questions focused on everything from the cost of a licence through to the introduction of physical intervention techniques and on to what the SIA does on a daily basis.
To his great credit, Butler “didn’t back down” (Ian Fox’s own words) and gave full answers to every question that was asked.
Indeed, he agreed that the term ‘Bouncer’ is offensive and an inappropriate description for members of what is now a highly regulated sector of the industry.
Creating a new future for the sector
The key message Butler imparted was that door supervision as a profession has now moved on. He wishes to see door staff help him, the Regulator and themselves to take things forward, create a new future for the industry and highlight the difficult role they perform.
Butler is a firm believer that door staff are highly valued and respected by all participants in the night-time economy, which is at least one reason why the SIA’s CEO continues to support the National Doorwatch project.
For its part, Security Management Today Online has always used the terms ‘door staff’ or ‘door supervisors’ as we also abhor (and always have done) the negative connotations associated with the word ‘Bouncers’.
On that basis, we would urge all of our partner organisations both in the security media world and beyond to abide by National Doorwatch’s wishes.
Representing the interests of door supervisors
National Doorwatch is an organisation representing the interests of professional door supervisors: the men and women employed to ensure guests’ safety during their time in a licensed entertainment venue.
It’s a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to provide free resources that will assist door supervisors fulfil their role to the best of their abilities. National Doorwatch’s overriding aim is to give door supervisors a voice at both a local and national level, and promote the positive side of their work in our communities.
National Doorwatch is not a union. Rather, first and last it’s described by Ian Fox as “a family”.
“National Doorwatch is proud of the fact that its family makes up one of the most diverse professions in the country,” asserted Fox. “In our profession, it’s all about the ability to do the job. This is a profession which requires a combination of understanding, tolerance and, above all, patience in some extremely demanding circumstances.”
National Doorwatch is also all about communication. “We recognise door supervisors can no longer work in isolation, and that it’s time for them to step forward positively into the future.”
In conclusion, Fox stated: “National Doorwatch wants to get the message out to everyone that door supervisors and their colleagues should be recognised and valued as a significant contributor to public safety in the night-time economy.”
A sentiment that’s fully endorsed by Security Management Today Online and info4security.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
If you feel strongly, send an e-mail to: brian.sims@ubm.com
Source: Oxford Mail
A doorman identified his teenage attacker hours after being stabbed at an Oxford nightspot – from a picture on social networking website Facebook.
Lee Donnelly was shown a photograph of Sean Keaney by his son hours after being taken to hospital with a stab wound to the stomach.
Keaney, then 18, had returned to The Four Candles in George Street and stabbed the doorman, who had earlier refused him entry for being too drunk.
Keaney, of Outram Road, Cowley, was yesterday jailed for three years.
Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said Mr Donnelly’s son, Liam, was working behind the bar of nearby OFS.
He said his son ‘came over and told his father he’d heard Sean Keaney did it’.
Mr Stone said: “His son said ‘I know him and his friends’.
“In hospital he showed him a picture from Facebook of Keaney and he (Donnelly Snr) confirmed it was indeed him.”
Mr Donnelly Snr later picked out Keaney in a video line-up.
Mr Stone told Oxford Crown Court that Keaney attempted to get into the pub with a friend at about 11.30pm on January 24 but was refused entry by the Botley doorman.
He said: “This seemed to trigger something.
“He called Mr Donnelly a ‘fat ****’ and invited him to go down to a nearby alleyway to ‘sort it out’, putting it in his words. The bouncer, perhaps unwisely, did go round the corner to get him to calm down.”
But Mr Stone told the court Keaney then lunged forward and punched Mr Donnelly in the face, causing him to bite his tongue.
He said the doorman then threw a punch “but only in self defence”.
The court heard that about an hour later, Keaney returned to the pub. Mr Stone said: “Mr Donnelly saw Mr Keaney coming along George Street from the Worcester Street car park.
“He asked him, ‘are you ok? have you calmed down now?’ but got no reply and he lunged towards Mr Donnelly, who spotted the shiny blade of a knife.
“He responded by pushing him away with an open palm but instantly knew he had been stabbed. He felt it go in and said ‘he’s got me’.”
Mr Donnelly, 39, who plays rugby for Gosford All Blacks, needed a stitch to a one centimetre stab wound.
Keaney, 19, admitted wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and having an offensive weapon in public.
He was sentenced to three years in a young offenders’ institution.
Hugh Williams, defending, said: “When he hasn’t had a drink he’s a perfectly reasonable young man (but) he changes, and that’s something that he has to address.
“He comes from a good family, is young and he has very limited previous convictions.”
Sentencing Kearney, Judge Julian Hall said: “People are entitled to walk down George Street just before midnight or just after and not have drunkards attacking the door staff.
“By the grace of God you didn’t do him any serious injury.”
Keaney is also awaiting sentence for his involvement in a pub fight in Cheltenham after admitting violent disorder.
He has previous convictions for possessing cocaine, a public-order offence and possessing false identification.
Source: Morning Advertiser
Two thirds of doorstaff at pubs and clubs have been subject to violent attacks.
That's according to a survey of 452 door supervisors for research commissioned by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in a report on the state of the sector.
The survey also found 90% of those who had worked in the sector more than five years said they'd be attacked either physically or verbally.
The SIA plans to carry out research into violence directed at doorstaff "and their ability to deal with it". It follows the introduction of a physical intervention requirement for new staff.
Elsewhere, the report highlights benefits that have come about from the SIA licensing regime, which was introduced in 2004.
Among doorstaff, this included improved career opportunities and job skills; better relationships with the police; increased chances of gaining more responsibility in future; more ability and confidence to do their job.
A survey of 95 doorstaff suppliers also noted benefits including staff being more able to deal with security threats and insurance benefits.
Both noted improved public perceptions of the sector and lower criminality, plus greater public trust, due to criminal record checks.
SIA chief executive Bill Butler said: “The results show that, although we can still improve, overall, the industry believes that SIA licensing has had a positive impact.
“What is very worrying is the unacceptable level of violence reported by security operatives and we have already begun further work into this area.
“While there are some areas the SIA cannot influence, pay and conditions for example, we have improved efficiency and customer services to support those in the industry as they drive forward professionalism and best practice.”
Source: SIA
Overall, licensing has had a positive impact on the private security industry, a study published today by the Security Industry Authority has found. However, a worrying level of violence against security operatives was reported, with further work by the SIA already underway to investigate this.
The Impact of Regulation research studied the Door Supervision and Security Guarding sectors. It was commissioned by the SIA to measure the industry's view of the longer term impact SIA licensing and create an up-to-date picture of the state of the industry as a result of licensing and associated training.
Interviews were conducted with 1,148 licensed individuals, both suppliers and operatives. Overall, the findings were positive.
As a result of licensing Security Guarding
However, there were concerns reported about the levels of respect received by operatives from the public, with high levels of both physical and verbal violence reported, particularly by door supervisors.
Two thirds of door supervisors reported having been subjected to violence in the past. More than 90% of those who had been working in the sector for more than five years reporting being attacked, either verbally or physically.
Just under half of security guards said they had been subjected to some form of violence in the past. Two-thirds of suppliers claimed that their staff had been subjected to violence. Security guards were more likely to have been subjected to verbal assaults than physical attack.
The SIA plans to carry out research into the levels of violence shown towards door supervisors and their ability to deal with it. Already in place are new competencies for the licence-linked qualifications, including training in Physical Intervention skills for all new door supervisors, and a compulsory Conflict Management element for Door Supervision, Security Guarding, Close Protection and Vehicle Immobilisation.
The SIA has also assisted in developing guidance on risk assessment to the Door Supervision and retail security sectors, and Chief Executive Bill Butler has signed the GMB's SafeGuard Charter, which aims to promote and develop good practice and principles to reduce and deal with violence.
SIA chief executive Bill Butler said:
I would like to thank the respondents for giving up their time to allow us to complete this work. The results show that, although we can still improve, overall, the industry believes that SIA licensing has had a positive impact.
What is very worrying is the unacceptable level of violence reported by security operatives and we have already begun further work into this area.
While there are some areas the SIA cannot influence, pay and conditions for example, we have improved efficiency and customer services to support those in the industry as they drive forward professionalism and best practice."
FDS International was commissioned by the SIA to undertake the research. The interviews were conducted in March 2010. FDS interviewed:
95 suppliers of door supervision services
452 front line door supervisors
200 suppliers of security guard services
401 front line security guards
Visit the 'SIA Research' page of the Publications section to read in full here
Source: The Guardian
Security companies are already patrolling housing estates, but will the government's radical shakeup of the police service give them a bigger role?
Francis Jones is a 29-year-old former boxer and born-again Christian. He is also the head of Sparta Security, a private security firm in Darlington that organises patrols against antisocial behaviour on local council estates. The words "Instant Alarm Response!!" are blazoned in red across his car. He's got a camera strapped across his chest for monitoring incidents. His blue eyes flash passionately when he talks about his work: "I used to be a naughty paughty, working in bars and clubs – I'd never turn down a fight. Now I'm walking the honest path and protecting the people of Darlington who sign up for my service. I prayed before I started that this would benefit the Lord. But if someone assaulted me I wouldn't hesitate to defend myself. I'm game as a pebble!"
Although it is not uncommon to see private security guards patrolling the affluent grounds of gated communities, new firms such as Sparta are starting to serve more diverse constituencies. Jones charges £3.50 a week each to some 100 households around the town – including those on Skerne Park estate and Yarm Road – for residential patrols that guard against vandalism, burglary and antisocial behaviour. He does the rounds twice a day and will respond in person when he is called.
His firm is not unique. Atraks, a company providing security in Southampton, says that it is serving some 440 homes at £3.66 a week, and Garde UK is reported to be patrolling estates in Essex.
Circumstances mean they could be in for more work. A joint report by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Audit Commission recently claimed that just one police officer in 10 is able to leave the office and serve on the streets. Meanwhile, the Home Office is facing cuts of 25%, and this month former Gloucestershire chief constable Tim Brain predicted that funding shortages could mean reducing police numbers by up to 60,000, raising serious questions about community safety.
"The economy may be going down but burglary isn't," says Jones. "We're here to be the eyes and ears of the police, but the officers aren't for me. They won't let me work with them, and stop me coming to neighbourhood meetings. I suppose it's because of credibility. They don't want to work with me, because it opens up doorways to private security, not just in Darlington but the whole of the UK. Maybe they're afraid of competition."
Sparta, which employs 20 staff on an ad hoc basis and grew out of the community it serves, is small fry compared with other firms eyeing the market. Securitas is a leading global security company that operates in more than 40 countries, employing some 260,000 staff worldwide. It already offers commercial monitoring and emergency response patrols in the UK and is contracted by the police to help secure particular events, such as the upcoming Bulldog Bash motorcyle show and festival in Warwickshire. Securitas's service development manager, John Naughton, says the company offers residential patrols in Germany, and those services could be expanded in the UK.
"There is a market for residential patrols in the UK, and this is something we would be very capable of providing," he says. "I was at an event [where the speaker was] Sir Paul Stephenson [the Metropolitan police commissioner] last week, and he effectively said that UK Police plc was open for business. It might be up to us to get a bit more proactive and make the most of the opportunities there."
Productive partnerships
The work Jones does can sometimes get dangerous. Often the perpetrators Sparta deals with are drunk or out of control, and aggression can easily escalate with locals who think Jones is a "police grass". He regularly disperses large groups of young people who are being loud or unruly in public spaces, and has intervened in cases of bullying and dog attacks. Although he has used some restraining tactics, he says things have never got out of control – if a situation hots up, he always calls the police.
Peter Davies, one of two assistant chief constables with Lincolnshire police and the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead on issues to do with private security, says: "The private security industry spans a huge spectrum of providers, from valued partners to real troublemakers."
He is keen to emphasise that the police do form productive partnerships with private contractors, pointing to partnerships at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol and Kirklees as examples. However, he does have "real concerns" about using private firms: "First, there is a point about accountability – if regular officers are discriminatory or discourteous, they are subject to a proper complaints process, which comes with policing by consent – these firms don't have that.
"The second problem is that commercial enterprises can be tempted to generate high levels of fear, which they can then exploit for commercial gain. Finally, there is a question about training. These companies may have received some basic training to get a licence, but it is unlikely to prepare them for everything that might be expected of them."
Under current legislation, every citizen has the power to make a citizen's arrest and to use "proportionate and reasonable force" to protect themselves and others from harm. That means it is not necessary to have a licence to patrol the streets informally, even when money changes hands – although all citizens remain subject to standard legislation against violence and discrimination. If, however, you operate under contract, as Sparta does, a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is required.
It is impossible to say exactly how many private firms like this are in operation, but the SIA says the total number of licences entitling individuals to take on such patrols is 300,591. Ten thousand have been issued in the past three months alone (although these licences also cover those working as bodyguards and undertaking door supervision, as well as residential patrols).
Naughton says he is worried about companies not upholding the standards of the industry. "We're fighting a battle to raise standards and increase regulation. I'm sure everyone in the industry would agree that we can't have thugs going around the streets fighting thugs – it damages the reputation of us all."
In Darlington, the police say they are comfortable with Sparta's presence at meetings, but they want residents to be aware that private companies do not have the powers they have to deal with crime.
And the private firms themselves can become targets. "Children aren't daft – they know the law works in their favour – and I'm constantly being taunted," says Jones. "I had one lad the other day who kept coming at me on a bike, enticing me to flog him. But I'm not stupid; I'm a professional businessman. So I just took him off his bike and held him down while a colleague called the police. People are watching you – you can't be seen to think you're a bigwig off the estate taking the law into your own hands."
Reaction to Sparta's patrols has been mixed. Gail Stevenson is a mother and local volunteer who has lived in Darlington all her life. Her husband employed Sparta to patrol his furniture business after his van was stolen last year. "You wouldn't see anyone else do anything about it [antisocial behaviour]," says Stevenson.
"A lot of young people used to hang around the shops causing trouble, but you don't see that now Francis keeps up a presence. He's well known in town as a boxer and a street preacher, and he wouldn't do violence to anyone. Because he's young he's got a rapport with them."
Not enough police officers
Others on the Skerne Park estate seem less pleased. Sitting in the pub in the heart of the low-rise estate, retired local resident Tony Lowery has lived on his block for 35 years and has mixed feelings about the patrols. "They knock on my door and ask for money and I say I've got a 6ft neighbour who'll look after me. But we've got a lot of problems with kids congregating at nights around the shops, and the police don't have enough officers, so maybe it's a good thing."
Jones is adamant that he provides a vital community service that the police no longer have the resources to deliver. "We see too many muggings, thefts and assaults in our communities," he says. "I am a boxer who can handle myself, but what if you don't box or you are too old to defend yourself? There have been times when, if I hadn't been there, there is a good chance people would have been assaulted. The police are doing a good job, but what can they do if they have to cut staff?"
Source: Morning Advertiser
Doorstaff licences are being revoked or suspended at an increasing rate.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) revoked 624 licences and suspended 382 in 2009/2010, according to the regulator’s latest annual report — up 12% on the previous year.
The figures relate to licences across a range of sectors, with doorstaff making up a big part.
“This rise was the result of developing closer working relationships with partner agencies and raising awareness of our licensing criteria,” said the report.
It shows 97% of the 2,387 people checked in inspections were fully licensed.
Targets for processing 80% of licence applications within 40 days were exceeded — 95% were completed in this time.
The SIA put it down to updating its IT infrastructure and improving monitoring of operational capacity.
Plans for the future include reducing rejection rates for applications and having a simpler renewals process “without unnecessary repetition of previously requested information”.
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post
Security will be stepped up at the Leeds Festival following two alleged rapes at a music event in Suffolk.
The Latitude Festival is run by Festival Republic, the same firm that organises Leeds's annual rock bash at Bramham Park, near Wetherby.
Its managing director, Melvin Benn, said he was "devastated" by the alleged attacks at Latitude, which was held in Southwold from last Thursday to Sunday.
And today he pledged to do everything possible to keep female festival-goers safe at Bramham Park next month.
Mr Benn said: "It is fair to say that in the future we will be making much more high profile the issue of being alone at night, particularly if you are a girl.
"Festivals provide an element of outdoor freedom.
"That is integral, but our ability to inform young girls in particular about the dangers of sexual predators is something we can do more on – and we will."
Extra stewards and security staff will now be on duty at the Leeds Festival, which is being held over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
There will also be a ban on bringing alcohol onto the site after 6pm on the final evening of the three-day event.
The Leeds Festival suffered repeated problems with last-night violence and rioting before moving from Temple Newsam to Bramham Park in 2003.
A total of 37 people were arrested at 2009's event, the majority of them in connection with drugs offences.
Acts appearing at the festival this summer include Arcade Fire, Blink 182 and Guns N' Roses.
* A 19-year-old woman was allegedly raped at Latitude by at least one man after losing her way when looking for a toilet late on Thursday.
The second reported attack took place on a 17-year-old girl in a tent at the festival site on Friday night or Saturday morning. Police say they are not linking the incidents.
Source: SIA
The next door supervisors’ network meeting will be held on Wednesday 8 September 2010 in Birmingham.
Delegates working within door supervision will have the opportunity to discuss and explore issues about the industry and regulation with others from the industry and with representatives from the SIA.
The meeting is being organised and facilitated by representatives of the door supervision sector with the support of the SIA, forming part of the SIA’s stakeholder engagement strategy.
If you would like to attend the meeting, please click here.
You must register your interest by 13 August 2010.
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).
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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
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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.