SAFETY AWARENESS
Upskilling a Door Supervisor within the Private Security Industry
SAFETY AWARENESS
COURSE BOOK - Addendum 1st Edition Page 11 – The following is NEW TEXT, to be added after ‘Searching’. Vulnerable people and sexual exploitation Door supervisors, as they go about their daily duties, come across and have to deal with a whole range of people, be they customers of the premises or members of the public generally. As part of our customer service and our role in protecting people from harm, we need to be aware of any people who may fall under the category of vulnerable people (people who may be at risk from harm). Factors that may put a person at more risk than others include: Drink/drugs: • Reduced inhibitions and the appearance of being overfriendly; • Uncoordinated movement increasing the risk of them hurting themselves; • Displays of aggression; • A change in perception of their own abilities and limitations; and • Decreased ability to make informed decisions. Alone or receiving unwanted attention: • Apparently separated from friends and looking distressed; • Receiving apparently unwanted attention from others; and • Being followed or threatened. Potential victim of domestic violence: • Often fuelled by alcohol or drugs, victims of domestic violence can be at an increased risk of assault and harm. Young people: • Particularly children and those under the age of 18. Door supervisors need to carefully consider the implications for vulnerable children and young adults either using, passing or leaving venues or sites. You need to consider things like whether they require medical attention, whether they have friends or family nearby and whether they have all of their belongings with them. Think about whether they appear to be under the influence of drink or drugs, how old they are, who they are with, and whether they appear to be being followed or harassed. If your professional judgement suggests that they might be vulnerable, you need to consider what help they might need. For example: Is there a relative or friend nearby to help them? Can you telephone anyone to come and help them? Can you call for a licensed taxi to take them home? Are there any local safe havens or other local initiatives such as those run by St John Ambulance nearby? Can local street pastors or street marshals help them? Do you need to call the emergency services? If in any doubt whatsoever, seek advice from a supervisor or call the police.
ADDENDUM - SAFETY AWARENESS
Potential sexual predators Sexual predators are those who commit sexual crimes, and they very often target vulnerable children and young adults. They can be male or female, and can be of any age, race, level of intelligence or profession. They will often appear to be confident, friendly, helpful and sober. A person can still be a sexual predator even if they are ignorant of the fact that a person cannot consent to sex if they are very drunk or heavily under the influence of drugs. Sexual predators may select their victims based on: • Gender; • Age; • Appearance; • Location; and
• Race; • Time of day.
• Vulnerability;
Possible indicators: • A lone male seen pestering a customer or member of staff; • A heavily intoxicated female leaving with a male; • A regular customer leaving often with different drunk females; and • Finding a date-rape type drug during a search. You should approach a vulnerable person before they can become the victim of a sexual crime. When you speak to them you can assess how vulnerable they are and work out how best to help them. Entry control A door supervisor’s main task at the entrance to a venue is to manage the queue, the correct selection of customers, and to prevent entry to undesirables. To provide proper control at the point of entry, and of the queue: • Meet and greet potential customers in a courteous and professional manner; • Provide good customer service; • Reduce the chances of conflict at the entrance; • Safely control the entry of customers and ensure safety inside; • Enforce the admissions policy on behalf of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS); • Carry out search procedures where required; • Monitor the numbers of people coming in; • Monitor and assess the attitudes and behaviours of potential customers; and • Deny access to unwelcome or unsuitable people.
Venue capacity In order to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and fire-safety regulations, it is vital that door supervisors monitor how many customers and staff are allowed inside the premises at any one time. Some venues, as part of their licensing conditions, have a maximum capacity (or occupancy) figure, which is based on how many people can be safely evacuated from the premises in an emergency. Strictly adhering to this figure helps ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of those inside. Hand-held counters are useful to help with this, with one counter being used to record all those entering, and another to record those leaving. The difference between the two numbers will tell you exactly how many people are inside the venue at any given time. Managing the venue capacity ensures that customers can enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
Highfield.co.uk Ltd Highfield House, Heavens Walk, Lakeside, Doncaster South Yorkshire DN4 5HZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 0845 2260350 +44 01302 363277 Fax: +44 0845 2260360 [email protected]
www.highfield.co.uk
Talking to customers and using effective communication techniques helps the door team to build good relations, manage customer expectations and reduce incidents of conflict; therefore enhancing the reputation of the staff and the venue itself.
SAFETY AWARENESS
COURSE BOOK - Addendum 1st Edition Page 11 – The following is NEW TEXT, to be added after ‘Searching’. Vulnerable people and sexual exploitation Door supervisors, as they go about their daily duties, come across and have to deal with a whole range of people, be they customers of the premises or members of the public generally. As part of our customer service and our role in protecting people from harm, we need to be aware of any people who may fall under the category of vulnerable people (people who may be at risk from harm). Factors that may put a person at more risk than others include: Drink/drugs: • Reduced inhibitions and the appearance of being overfriendly; • Uncoordinated movement increasing the risk of them hurting themselves; • Displays of aggression; • A change in perception of their own abilities and limitations; and • Decreased ability to make informed decisions. Alone or receiving unwanted attention: • Apparently separated from friends and looking distressed; • Receiving apparently unwanted attention from others; and • Being followed or threatened. Potential victim of domestic violence: • Often fuelled by alcohol or drugs, victims of domestic violence can be at an increased risk of assault and harm. Young people: • Particularly children and those under the age of 18. Door supervisors need to carefully consider the implications for vulnerable children and young adults either using, passing or leaving venues or sites. You need to consider things like whether they require medical attention, whether they have friends or family nearby and whether they have all of their belongings with them. Think about whether they appear to be under the influence of drink or drugs, how old they are, who they are with, and whether they appear to be being followed or harassed. If your professional judgement suggests that they might be vulnerable, you need to consider what help they might need. For example: Is there a relative or friend nearby to help them? Can you telephone anyone to come and help them? Can you call for a licensed taxi to take them home? Are there any local safe havens or other local initiatives such as those run by St John Ambulance nearby? Can local street pastors or street marshals help them? Do you need to call the emergency services? If in any doubt whatsoever, seek advice from a supervisor or call the police.
ADDENDUM - SAFETY AWARENESS
Potential sexual predators Sexual predators are those who commit sexual crimes, and they very often target vulnerable children and young adults. They can be male or female, and can be of any age, race, level of intelligence or profession. They will often appear to be confident, friendly, helpful and sober. A person can still be a sexual predator even if they are ignorant of the fact that a person cannot consent to sex if they are very drunk or heavily under the influence of drugs. Sexual predators may select their victims based on: • Gender; • Age; • Appearance; • Location; and
• Race; • Time of day.
• Vulnerability;
Possible indicators: • A lone male seen pestering a customer or member of staff; • A heavily intoxicated female leaving with a male; • A regular customer leaving often with different drunk females; and • Finding a date-rape type drug during a search. You should approach a vulnerable person before they can become the victim of a sexual crime. When you speak to them you can assess how vulnerable they are and work out how best to help them. Entry control A door supervisor’s main task at the entrance to a venue is to manage the queue, the correct selection of customers, and to prevent entry to undesirables. To provide proper control at the point of entry, and of the queue: • Meet and greet potential customers in a courteous and professional manner; • Provide good customer service; • Reduce the chances of conflict at the entrance; • Safely control the entry of customers and ensure safety inside; • Enforce the admissions policy on behalf of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS); • Carry out search procedures where required; • Monitor the numbers of people coming in; • Monitor and assess the attitudes and behaviours of potential customers; and • Deny access to unwelcome or unsuitable people.
Venue capacity In order to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and fire-safety regulations, it is vital that door supervisors monitor how many customers and staff are allowed inside the premises at any one time. Some venues, as part of their licensing conditions, have a maximum capacity (or occupancy) figure, which is based on how many people can be safely evacuated from the premises in an emergency. Strictly adhering to this figure helps ensure the safety, comfort and enjoyment of those inside. Hand-held counters are useful to help with this, with one counter being used to record all those entering, and another to record those leaving. The difference between the two numbers will tell you exactly how many people are inside the venue at any given time. Managing the venue capacity ensures that customers can enjoy themselves in a safe environment.
Highfield.co.uk Ltd Highfield House, Heavens Walk, Lakeside, Doncaster South Yorkshire DN4 5HZ, United Kingdom Tel: +44 0845 2260350 +44 01302 363277 Fax: +44 0845 2260360 [email protected]
www.highfield.co.uk
Talking to customers and using effective communication techniques helps the door team to build good relations, manage customer expectations and reduce incidents of conflict; therefore enhancing the reputation of the staff and the venue itself.
