City Of Westminster Security Desk

Points for Consideration to Enhance Security (Entertainment Venues).

Entry

  • Entry points - keep to a minimum (easier to manage) but allowing enough space to avoid congestion. Ensure well lit and staff can communicate with each other.
  • Entry monitored by security and CCTV.
  • Give full briefings to your head Door Supervisor and their staff (in order to focus staff on the task in hand and reinforce procedures)
  • Ensure the entire queue is supervised outside venue and at the cloakroom.
  • Prevention signage outside venue as well as inside.
  • Does venue have search policy? Are signs displayed to explain the search policy?
  • Ensure there is clear demarcation as to where the queue for your venue begins and finishes
  • Door Supervisors to work the queue. (Supervise the rear as well as the front).
  • Encourage Door Supervisors to speak to patrons the queue, identify suspicious people/activity in advance
  • Do security (door supervisors) patrol venue?
  • Do security (door supervisors) have search wands and /or a search arch?
  • Capacity monitoring. (Electronic or clickers)?
  • All staff to know capacity and manager details.
  • Bags searched upon entry and further searched upon deposit in cloakroom.
  • CCTV to cover immediate outside area.
  • Are all entrance/exit points covered by CCTV to identification standard?

Internal

  • Free Cloakroom to encourage use. No bags on floor or left in building.
  • Visible signage for free cloakroom.
  • All bags in cloakroom.
  • Staff to approach customers re, unattended property.
  • Consider a designated property warden (identification armband etc.) from existing member of staff (i.e. glass collector).
  • Display appropriate signage re, safety of bags.
  • Set appropriate staff levels to create safe environment.
  • In house communications (radio system).
  • Position tills to face customers to improve surveillance.
  • Toilets easily monitored preferably near to a permanent staff position. If no permanent attendant, ensure regular visits by staff and/or security. Location preferably away from main entrance. Consider CCTV coverage on door, lobby or inside (not on urinals or looking into cubicles).
  • CCTV signage.
  • No cupboards or drawers within venue especially toilet area.
  • Cisterns boxed in and secure.
  • Top and bottom cubicle doors (minimum 8 inches) for supervision.
  • Regular staff checks in the area outside of the venue.


CCTV

  • Evaluate your CCTV systems. Is the quality poor? (you may have to consider upgrading, it might save lives)
  • Is the CCTV system registered with police CCTV database?
  • Are CCTV tapes secure (if VHS) and kept for minimum 31 days? Immediate police access is required.
  • Are CCTV tapes renewed every 3 months?
  • Digital CCTV systems must have a suitable storage and download facility.
  • Staff on duty must be trained in the use of these systems.
  • Ensure all systems are Date Protection compliant.
  • A record must be kept of persons accessing, using and retrieving images.
  • Nominate a person and delegate responsibility to them for the ensuring CCTV is working and in operation


External

  • Rubbish sacks to be placed in secure storage (if possible).
  • Membership of pubwatch / clubwatch.
  • Has venue had advice from crime prevention officer?
  • Are staff aware of emergency exits as well as entrance?
  • What are the evacuation procedures, and do all staff know details?
  • Do all staff know the assembly point?
  • Are 1st aiders employed at the venue?
  • Who meets the first officers on scene (Does everyone know who is the boss and who gives the orders)?
  • Separate clickers for evacuation (count them in, count them out).
  • Where is the 1st aid box?
  • Staff to be advised to remain calm. If staff panic, everyone panics.
  • Lights to be switched on and the music off.
  • Do not touch suspect packages / bags etc.
  • Do not use a radio or mobile phone in the vicinity of a suspect package.
  • Consider the use of high visibility jackets when evacuation commences.
  • Managers remain responsible for premises. As far as possible, follow any instructions given by police.

Incident

  • Safety of staff and customers is the priority.
  • Render first aid as necessary.
  • Maintain a management log of action taken.
  • Obtain contact details of witnesses.
  • The scene of any incident must not to be interfered with. No cleaning up (incl. glasses, cigarette butts).
  • Customers and staff are potential witnesses - obtain details if possible.

Finally

  • Should a bomb explode at or near your premises please remember that during other attacks, secondary devices have been placed near by in order to try and inflict further casualties.
  • All plans need to be robust and flexible. Seek advice if you need it.
  • You may not need all these measures, but you may have to justify why you didn't have them in place…
  • Do you have up to date Business Continuity Plans?
 

Kate Nicholls
23 Beaconsfield Road
London W5 5JE
tel 07958 796 238