1 Girl in 4 says her drinks have been spiked

Title – 1 Girl in 4 says her drinks have been spiked
Source – Daily Mail
Date – 6th December 2005

“One young woman in four claims to have had her drink spiked and only one in twenty says she feels safe in the streets” Reads the first line of this article. Statistics on the subject of drink spiking vary every time a new report is commissioned. Certainly the assertion that one in every 4 women have actually been spiked is a little on the paranoid side, but there is no longer any doubt that drink spiking has become a serious problem in the UK.

Owners, Managers and Staff now have to be well aware of the risks to their customers and their business from ignoring the problem. Whereas First Aid Trained staff once had to ask the question “how much?” when it came to dealing with an intoxicated individuals, they then, once the drug culture really started growing, had to ask “what?”, they now also have to ask the questions “Where and with whom”. Ignorance is no longer a viable excuse and all employees have a responsibility to gain the knowledge they need to be aware and help reduce the risk from these drugs being administered to others without their knowledge.

Our security courses and BIIAB courses for the licensed retail sector address the problems of self administered illegal drugs as well as drink spiking which has become a real issue in the UK and dare not be ignored by those working within the sector.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk

Bouncer jail threat in drink spiking case

Title – Bouncer jail threat in drink spiking case
Source – The Sun
Date – 28th October 2005

Stories like these have plagued the Security Industry for years; they taint the good work that is carried out by thousands of door supervisors throughout the country. Police authorities regularly comment that they would loose all control of our city centres were it not for the legions of door supervisors employed by the licensed retail sector in the UK.

We believe that there is a need for us to continue to review the security industry and improve the professional standards already set by the best individuals within our industry. Through continued training and increasing the professional standards of the industry Beyond The Blue intends to be a critical component in helping the industry to brush off this public perception and provide them with a standard of personnel they deserve.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk

UK clubbers ‘turn to ketamine’

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Title – UK clubbers ‘turn to ketamine’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 6th September 2005

Drug use trends change over time and as the popularity of one type of drug decreases, another inevitably takes its place.

Being informed of the latest information and understanding these trends, allows those people working in the security industry and licensed retail sector to identify the sign and symptoms and reduce the risks involved with having to deal with the consequences of drug use.

Through many of the courses we offer such as the National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS), the National Certificate for Licensees Drug Awareness (NCLDA) and our In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI) we offer the latest advice and updates the situation with drugs commonly used both voluntarily and those administered to others without their knowledge. Ketamine is increasingly being used as a drug of choice, but it became notorious by being used as a 'Date Rape' drug.
We can also through our Consultancy Service provide your venue or organisation with a comprehensive Venue Specific Manual that has a substantial section dedicated to drugs, drug use and drug dealing and how to identify and deal with it.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk

Stimulant drug ‘dulls the brain’

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Title – Stimulant drug ‘dulls the brain’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 20th August 2005

Methamphetamine otherwise known as methylamphetamine or desoxyephedrine and under the street-names crystal meth, tina, krank, tweak, and ice has reached epidemic levels in many parts of the world including the USA, Australia and South East Asia. In the UK steps have now been taken to re-classify it as a Class A drug before what is currently a small user group, expands to the almost pandemic proportions of other countries.

We run In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI) that cover all aspects of the role and responsibilities and key skills of those working within the Security Industry and the licensed retail sector specific to their venues. These courses consider the current situation from a legal standpoint as well as the signs and symptoms of use and users. We examine the particular demographic of the venues customers to enable us to focus on the most relevant information.
We also run BIIAB National Certificate for Licensees Drug Awareness Course (NCLDA) and the National Certificate for Door Supervisors Course (NCDS) which also cover aspects of illegal drug awareness and understanding.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk

Britain: Why no travel advisory?

Title – Britain: Why no travel advisory?
Source – The Island (Sri Lanka)
Date – 28th July 2005

This article was discovered by accident as the paper was used to wrap a gift, so although the scan clearly shows the effect of being used as wrapping paper for a year before it was discovered, the article is as relevant today as it was in 2005. It reads:

A man (non-white) who, the British police had reason to believe could be a suicide bomber was shot in the head as ordered by a police chief in London. After the killing the police issued a statement that they had established he was not a terrorist. That is all not one word of remorse. They have gone further and have confirmed that they will continue to shoot in the head anybody they suspect to be a suicide bomber.

Why shoot in the head? It is because it is only by shooting in the head that the victim’s hands could be instantly immobilised and prevented from setting off the bomb. There cannot be any other reason. That being the case it is obvious that instructions have been issued not to attempt to arrest because the suicide bomber will set off the bomb as soon as it is clear to him that his is going to be arrested. That is the reason why the order has been given to kill first and if it is an innocent man issue a statement that the police have established that the man is not a terrorist.

This procedure is to be carried out only after visually establishing that the victim is not an Englishman in spite of the fact that there are many Muslims who could pass off as Englishmen in a crowd. Britain should know that no instrument has so far been developed to detect from a distance a person with sufficient explosives for a bomb concealed in his suicide jacket developed by the friends of the British, the LTTE. Even if an instrument was invented to detect the slightest amount of explosives then every man carrying a box of matches, would be at risk of being shot in the head. The research will have to include the detection of plastic and all other types of explosives. Why not ask your friends the LTTE the type of explosives they use? That probably is what Al-Queda is using. Did the Al-Queda reinvent the wheel and develop the suicide jacket themselves or did they get it from their friends the LTTE. Can we believe that they have no communications with each other?
In view of what the police have done it is the duty of our government to issue a travel advisory as regards Britain so that those who go there know the risks they are taking.
It is now clear that paranoia has gripped the police and that is the first sign of their breakdown. Once the police breakdown the security of the entire nation gets undermined.
See how easily the Al-Queda is doing this? Before it gets to the point where the situation cannot be reversed, wouldn’t it be best to hold immediate “PEACE TALKS” with Al-Queda?
Beyond The Blue does not endorse the sentiments in this letter to the editor of 'The Island' newspaper in Sri Lanka, but rather uses it as a clear demonstration of the opinions of people from other parts of the world have of the UK and the current political climate in the west and Britain in general.

For the sake of clarity the LTTE is the 'Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam' commonly referred to as the 'Tamil Tigers' who are in conflict with the Sri Lankan government for control of the north and east of this island where they hope to establish an independent state.
It is very important that we start to understand and appreciate the views of citizens from other countries around the world and the impression they have of us, both when we travel and when we stay at home and work in our own environment. Beyond The Blue - Safe Gap Year run Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety and Awareness workshops for those people travelling for the first time and provide them with cultural awareness training as well as personal safety training, to help individuals better understand the parts of the world they are visiting. For people working in the UK we can help through our Conflict Management and Resolution Training (CMR) and the work we do as Consultants in the Security Industry.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk

University staff ‘face threats’

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Title – University staff ‘face threats’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 9th June 2005

Even in the echelons of higher education, staff are not exempt from work place violence. Once a bastion of those who benefited from 'good schooling' and who could afford to attend, University education is now open to the masses. With Universities having to meet government quotas to achieve funding, the net has been extended to include a much wider catchment area.

Although there are undoubted benefits to higher education being available to the masses, with this enlargement, come problems with integration. Universities are not immune from the rest of society, but the basis of them being institutes of higher learning, means that they are often not as well prepared to deal with the problems that arise in society as a whole.

We offer Conflict Management and Resolution Courses (CMR) to help those exposed to it to be better prepared to deal with conflict, aggression and workplace violence.

Through our knowledge of the Security Industry and our experience working within the University and Students’ Union sector we are ideally placed to offer Consultancy in the area of University and Students’ Union security operations and the provision of security services as well as being able to advise on suitable solutions to workplace violence issues those working in these areas may face.

Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk