Sir – I have been commissioned by the Somerset Drugs Action Team and Somerset Police to look at some of the major issues surrounding safety in late night bars and night clubs.

As part of my approach to this research, I am focusing on the protocols surrounding the search procedures for door staff. I understand from the Security Industry Authority’s well-publicised national curriculum that all door supervisors are trained in the correct approach and methods of conducting searches of those individuals entering licensed premises.

However, I am trying to find out if there is an optimum figure for the percentage of people actually being searched on entry. Should it be every person, or every other person? Should it be every tenth person through the door?

Is the figure related to venue capacity, or the risk assessment a venue owner might make on the probability of encountering either drugs or weapons?

I would be really interested to hear from any Security Management Today readers who know of any research that has been undertaken in this area, or any examples of current Best Practice. I can be contacted via e-mail at the following address: johnhesketh2@aol.com

John Hesketh, Researcher iSafe

Source

SMT

Postscript

Practitioners who would like to share their examples of Best Practice with SMT’s readership should write to The Editor at the address below...