Larger louts in 40’s prove binge kings

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Title – Larger louts in 40’s prove binge kings
Source – Metro
Date – 21st December 2007

The common assumptions that people in their late teens, 20’s and early 30’s are the worst binge drinkers may not be quite as obvious as we had all expected. This latest survey suggests that people in their 40’s have taken over and that time is catching up with them.

For those working in the licensed retail sector this information may come as a surprise and may change their approach to this age group and their assumptions about younger drinkers often referred to as 'binge drinkers'.


Beyond The Blue was established to provide Training and Consultancy to the Licensed Retail Sector and look beyond the obvious to provide information to our clients that is both accurate and relevant to allow them to see beyond the blue rather then deal with things that happen out of the blue.



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

Getting round the smoking ban in Germany

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Title – Getting round the smoking ban in Germany
Source – www.metro.co.uk
Date – 19th December 2007

The smoking ban came into force in Germany in January 2008, some time after the UK and there are different rules in different parts of the country. But Michael Windisch came up with the bright idea of allowing people to smoke while inside, yet actually smoking outside, it has not caught on in the UK yet….

This may not be a solution to the loss of revenue to some businesses in the UK, which came with the introduction of the smoking ban, but it is a good representation of what innovation can do. From complete obscurity to publicity throughout the worlds press, Michael Windisch came up with an idea that if not the most practical, certainly grabbed people’s attention.

Innovation, new ideas and making the most of the situation you find yourself in, are all ways of grabbing people’s attention and once you have it, your service standards and the quality of the product you are selling will do the rest. Providing that is, that they are of a suitably high standard.

Our Consultancy Service will look at your business or any part of it and offer you the guidance to improve through a number of established methods and using innovation where ever possible. It is very easy for you to get so involved with your business that you can’t see what is staring you in the face. This inability to see what is letting you down and where you need to improve is not a failing, as it happens to most organisations and in every sector, but the brave and farsighted use the experience of others to point them in the right direction again, to open their eyes and their employees eyes to the potential locked up in their organisation.

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

Aboard the ‘Booze Bus’

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Title – Aboard the ‘Booze Bus’
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 17th December 2007

It is once again a dour picture that is painted of high streets and licensed premises throughout the country. The blame lies fundamentally at the foot of the consumer who drinks to excess and ignores, or is ignorant of the consequences.

However the blame will be laid squarely at the door of he licensed retail sector and the Licensing Act 2003 (or as the tabloids prefer to call it '24 hour drinking') and is sometimes deserved. However, most in the licensed retail sector know all too well that the Act actually (in most cases) put more restrictions, sanctions and responsibility on the personal license holder then the old licensing laws, but public perception is very different.

Licensed retailers have a responsibility to do their part in protecting people from themselves and the excesses and social problems they create, such as those faced by hospitals, emergency services and schemes like the 'booze bus'.

The first step in becoming a more responsible alcohol retailer is training staff at all levels. A better understanding of every individual’s responsibility under the Act will ultimately result in a more professional approach being taken overall by your staff. This will ultimately lead to a less volatile working environment and a more profitable business, protected from sanction by the authorities.

At Beyond The Blue we provide a comprehensive portfolio of BIIAB accredited licensing courses including the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR), National Certificate for Personal License Holders (NCPLH), National Certificate for Designated Premises Supervisors (NCDPS), National Licensees Certificate - Drugs Awareness (NCLDA), Professional Barpersons Qualification (PBQ) as well as the Award in Conflict Management (ACM). We can also help you with consultancy projects that can examine your business and help you become a more responsible retailer and ultimately more profitable. We examine those systems in place that require change and strengthen those that may have slipped. Many managers end up being so close to their businesses that they simply can’t see the problems staring them in the face, we can all identify with that situation; but the brave ones ask for help to see them and realise the rewards.

For those people working in the health sector and on the 'front line', our Conflict Management and Resolution course and our Physical Intervention course it enables candidates to be able to better protect themselves from the abuse and assaults that they may face in the course of their duties. It goes without saying that any aggression or abuse of those people dedicated to helping others when they most need it, is totally unacceptable, but it is also unfortunately a reality and one their employers need to address. We can help you.

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

Stronger drinks put many at risk

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Title – Stronger drinks put many at risk
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 14th December 2007

Everyone working in the licensed retail sector must make themselves aware of the risks involved with alcohol consumption and the effects it has on individuals. This knowledge enables them to act more responsibly in the sale or supply of alcohol in their individual place of work.

With a variety of different premises satisfying the different needs of their community from working men’s clubs to continental style wine / café bars and street corner off licenses to specialist wine merchants, staff require the knowledge of the products they are selling, to be able to better advise their customers. Customers are increasingly concerned with what they are consuming, many more people take an interest in the ingredients in their food and drink and this trend is set to grow with the introduction of new labelling on all bottles and cans containing alcohol, that will show the governments sensible drinking message and the alcohol unit content.

The old and very simple methods of calculating units consumed, where a glass of wine, a single shot or a half pint of beer was the equivalent of one unit, is now completely inappropriate in an environment where double measures are standard, abv’s on beer and wine vary significantly and alcopops come in all shapes, sizes, colours and strengths. It is almost a rarity to see wine served in 125ml glasses any more, yet many still assume that a glass of wine is the equivalent of one unit, an assumption that is both common and dangerous.

Similar problems can also arise as a result of those people who play Russian roulette when it comes to driving after having a drink and who believe themselves to be below the “limit”. Clearly in these cases staff should never advise how much customers can drink and remain below the legal limit. The only responsible message for the industry to send out is, if you are drinking at all, don’t drive! Calculating what and how much is safe to drink and drive is a contradiction in terms.

All your staff need to have the basic knowledge of the products they are selling, to be able to inform customers regarding the products they are consuming. As your client base gets more sophisticated, they will expect this knowledge to be made available to them on demand.

Our comprehensive portfolio of BIIAB accredited licensed retail sector courses can help you and your staff to gain this knowledge and provide better service to your customers as well as enable you to act a responsible alcohol retailer. Our courses including the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR), National Certificate for Personal License Holders (NCPLH), National Certificate for Designated Premises Supervisors (NCDPS), National Licensees Certificate - Drugs Awareness (NCLDA), Professional Barpersons Qualification (PBQ) as well as the Award in Conflict Management (ACM). We can also help you with consultancy projects that can examine your business and help you become more profitable. We examine those systems in place that require change and strengthen those that may have slipped. Many managers end up being so close to their businesses that they simply can’t see the problems staring them in the face, we can all identify with that situation; but the brave ones ask for help to see them and realise the rewards.

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

Thousands wrongly cleared to work

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Title – Thousands wrongly cleared to work
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 13th December 2007

The problems surrounding the issuing of licenses to individuals not cleared to work in the UK continues to deepen at a time when the Home Office is under fire from all quarters and scrutinised on the front page of every newspaper.

This negative impact that is then deflected on the security industry is in some cases deserved. The responsibility does not just lie with the issuing of licenses, but also with employers employing individuals who are ineligible to work in this country. It is the responsibility of every employer to check the eligibility of their staff to work in the UK, as both they and the staff themselves will face sanction if found to be in breach of employment law, in what is clearly going to become a witch hunt over the coming months and years.

Those who fall foul of employment law have very little recourse, every employer, be they in the security industry or outside of it, have a responsibility to ensure that they are taking the steps they need to ensure the legitimacy of their staff. However in a day and age where security is close to the top of every agenda and for an industry always being scrutinised and legislated against, there is even more reason to pay particular attention at the point of employing staff.

Always in the firing line both from negative publicity and from the very nature of the security industry, those working within it have a responsibility to the industry itself it, to legitimise their business and make people see it for what it is; an essential service to the country, without which the police simply would not cope and without which the country would be substantially worse off. Those working in the industry need to remember they are the solution and not the problem; it is for all of us to prove that statement to be correct.

If all 11,000 suspected 'illegal foreign workers' are stripped of their SIA licence the industry will face further staff shortage to compound the shortages still being experienced in many areas as a result of the introduction of licensing in the security industry. This is a situation that will only improve with the overall image of the industry improving and therefore attracting more people to seek training in order to join the industry and work within it.
Employers have to remember that an SIA license does not provide a guarantee of eligibility to work in the UK and they have to satisfy themselves under employment law, all their staff are eligible before offering them any form of employment.

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

Brown calls time on young drinkers

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Title – Brown calls time on young drinkers
Source – Metro
Date – 22nd November 2007

Alcohol related anti-social behaviour has now reached the highest level of the political agenda and Prime Minister Gordon Brown is himself calling for action to be taken against those that flaunt the law within the licensed retail sector.

But report after report demonstrates the uphill battle faced especially my small retailers from gangs, youths and repeat offenders. Sitting in the house of commons and using the sound bites to win political favour is one thing and no one would argue that the sentiment is correct, but where they take action on one front they have to also take action on the other and start dealing with the other causes of anti social behaviour and the violence and aggression faced by independent retailers on a daily basis.

Once again it seems like the government is intent on punishment without really examining the problems faced every day and in many cases the reluctance of the authorities or their inability to deal with the root causes. Many retailers feel that they have been abandoned on the front line of social conflict as they are terrorised by youths. Often the easiest and safest solution is to sell to underage children rather then face violence from gangs and individuals. They feel the support is simply not available, when they report crime it is not dealt with as a priority or sometimes it is simply becomes a statistic, which for the victim makes the point of reporting it in the first place a waste of time.


Training is one way not only of empowering staff, but also of teaching them vital knowledge to enable them to better understand their responsibilities. In the case of our Conflict Management and Resolution courses or Physical Intervention courses, it trains them to be in a better position to protect themselves in the case of aggression or physical violence. Our approach is to concentrate on reducing the threat rather then teaching self defence techniques, prevention being better then the cure. However when the situation does get out of hand staff need to be able to remove themselves from the situation and call for help. Our low impact personal safety techniques provide the basic skills to achieve this.



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

Ambulance calls are up 12% since 24-hour drinking

Title – Ambulance calls are up 12% since 24-hour drinking
Source – London Lite
Date – 22nd November 2007

There are growing concerns as alcohol related emergency calls are on the rise across the country. Much is attributed to binge drinkers needing or requesting hospital treatment and calling for an ambulance.

Certainly those working within the licensed retail sector or as door supervisors have a responsibility to look after their customers wellbeing and no ambulance crew will discriminate against someone who genuinely needs their help, but this is a service that is stretched at the best of times and they need to be able to respond quickly when they are really needed. This capability is radically reduced if they are continuously called to help people who have drunk too much and more importantly who have been allowed to drink too much, to the point where they require medical assistance.

Nobody wants to get to the point where staff are afraid to call for help when they actually need it for fear of a venue getting a bad reputation and nobody wants to reopen the discussions on 'paid policing' or in the case of the ambulance service 'a paid response', but it is a real possibility if the escalation in emergency call-outs continues.

Before this occurs the licensed retail sector needs to get its house in order and realise that the greed that sometimes creeps into businesses, where people serve that one last drink to someone who is already intoxicated needs to be addressed. Anyone works in the sector knows that the tiny profit this action generates is far outweighed, in the long run, by additional cost in security and loss of trade from those sensible drinkers and customers who simply don’t want to be bumped into, disturbed and harassed by drunks.

The key to resolving these problems is that the licensed retail sector acts more responsibly. To achieve this the staff within a premises need to work more closely together, managers need to stop asserting pressure on staff to sell to anyone without consideration and need to start training staff regarding their responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003. Training for all staff needs to be effective and comprehensive, in order for the licensed retail trade to play an active part in reducing emergency calls and ultimately your staff costs through reduction of conflict and first aid situations.

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

Underage alcohol sales rising

Title – Underage alcohol sales rising
Source – London Lite
Date – 22nd November 2007

With headlines like this it is not surprising that the licensed retail sector can expect further legislation in the near future as the subject of alcohol sales climbs further and further up the political agenda.

Statistics are however easily manipulated and without quantifying the source it is reasonable to suggest that the figure of 26.8% of licensed retailers selling to underage drinkers does not represent a cross section of the licensed retail trade, but rather a selected number of outlets targeted by Trading Standards. The very fact that trading standards carried out the test purchase is very often as a result of intelligence received and targets retailers who have a history or where there is intelligence indicating the selling of alcohol irresponsibly.

It is also a fair assumption to suggest that in regard to retailers who sell larger quantities of alcohol such as supermarkets, they were not fairly represented by these figures as their systems are far more robust and the amount of alcohol they sell is considerably larger then small independents, who tend to fall foul of these types of test purchasing schemes.

So although we can assume that within the entire licensed retail trade the figures are not as high as one in four flouting the law, if you work within the trade you should still take heed of this report and tighten up your own systems, before trading standards come to your outlet and test your staff.

The important aspect to note is that they are not testing you as an individuals they are testing your staff and your systems and the personal license holder needs to ensure that they have provided adequate training to all staff, to fulfil their responsibilities under the Licensing Act 2003.

We provide a comprehensive portfolio of BIIAB accredited licensing retail sector courses including the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR), National Certificate for Personal License Holders (NCPLH), National Certificate for Designated Premises Supervisors (NCDPS), National Licensees Certificate - Drugs Awareness (NCLDA), Professional Barpersons Qualification (PBQ) as well as the Award in Conflict Management (ACM). We can also help you with consultancy projects that can examine your business and help you become more profitable. We examine those systems in place that require change and strengthen those that may have slipped. Many managers end up being so close to their businesses that they simply can’t see the problems staring them in the face, we can all identify with that situation; but the brave ones ask for help to see them and realise the rewards.

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

Parents ‘to blame’ for teens binge drinking

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Title – Parents ‘to blame’ for teens binge drinking
Source – Metro
Date – 20th November 2007

For once the government blame someone else but the licensed retail trade for underage drinking and look to the root cause rather then blaming a trade who in the most part are fighting to maintain order in society by acting responsibly in their alcohol sales. How licensed retailers are expected to have any influence over sales to adults, who then pass on alcohol and cigarettes to their children, is an impossible question to answer.

However that does not mean that licensed retailers can wash their hands of the problem and knowingly selling alcohol that is destined for an underage drinker, irrespective of how old the purchaser is, remains an offence under the licensing act and you can and will be prosecuted if caught.


Having a good understanding of the Licensing Act 2003 is the responsibility of all employers within the trade and you must ensure that your staff are equally knowledgeable and competent, otherwise it is your business that will suffer and the employees and personal license holder who authorises these sales will be held culpable.



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

5000 illegal workers in security

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Title – 5000 illegal workers in security
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 12th November 2007

Much has been made of blunders at the Home Office in the past few years and this time it is the Security Industry Authorities’ turn to become a political tennis ball. All the major parties have been jostling for position and any chance they get, the boot gets put in and the headline writers have a field day.

If the figures being banded about are correct then the industry does have a problem, but not one of its own making. Training organisations are not employers and it is not our role to vet employees, but it is the role of individual employers to do so. The SIA is tightening its identity requirements for persons applying for a license, but ultimately the responsibility to ensure that staff employed are eligible to work in this country and have the right accreditation falls squarely with the employer.

An SIA license does not automatically mean an employee has the right to work in the UK. Normal pre-employment checks still need to be carried out, including eligibility of an employee to work in the UK.

One outcome of this revision is that there may soon be somewhere in the region of 5000 less licensed security staff eligible to work in the UK, this in an industry already suffering some staff shortages following the introduction of the licensing process three years ago.

The SIA introduced licensing for security staff to clean up an industry that suffered a terrible reputation, it has succeeded in parts, but there is a long way to go. It will take more then three years to professionalise an industry riddled with unprofessional and criminal influences going back generations and incidents like this one will not be isolated. The key for those responsible employers working within the industry and running professional and efficient operations is to continue to work with the SIA and authorities to clean up failures when they occur and not just spend time talking about them as our politicians sometimes tend to favour.
At Beyond The Blue we run courses in the National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS), these allow individuals passing the examinations and who have suitable documented identification to apply for a Door Supervisors License. The advantage of this course is that it allows the holder of the license to work in the licensed retail sector (bars, clubs, pubs, hotels etc) as well as more traditional security guarding roles. This is not the case for those obtaining a security guarding license which restricts them from working in the licensed retail sector.

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

Women drinkers are fit to burst

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Title – Women drinkers are fit to burst
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 9th November 2007

Few people can any longer be in any doubt as to the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption, it sometimes seems like a new danger is printed in the newspapers on a daily basis.

Even if the long term damage to health is well known the short term dangers such as ruptured bladders are often ignored.

Just as responsible alcohol retailers are all too aware the social disorder created by excessive alcohol consumption or 'Binge drinking' as well as the huge cost to the tax payer from the health problems it can cause, they should also be aware how high up the political agenda this subject has now reached.

The time has come for the industry as a whole to take the lead on this matter, before the government legislates on it and the industries costs spiral as a result.

The first step is staff training. The industry already has a portfolio of staff training courses through the BIIAB and Beyond The Blue is accredited to administer these courses. These include: The Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR), National Certificate for Personal License Holders (NCPLH), National Certificate for Designated Premises Supervisors (NCDPS), National Licensees Certificate - Drugs Awareness (NCLDA), Professional Barpersons Qualification (PBQ) as well as the Award in Conflict Management (ACM). The advantage of these courses apart from the skills they provide you and your staff with is that they provide you with a defence of due diligence if things do go wrong.
We can also help you with consultancy projects that can examine your business and help you become more profitable. We examine those systems in place that require change and strengthen those that may have slipped. Many managers end up being so close to their businesses that they simply can’t see the problems staring them in the face, we can all identify with that situation; but the brave ones ask for help to see them and realise the rewards.

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

500 Pubs adopt 24-hour drinking

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Title – 500 Pubs adopt 24-hour drinking
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 8th November 2007

Statistics don’t lie, they can be manipulated and distorted to suit the needs of those trumpeting their cause for one reason or another, but ultimately if they were to be presented accurately then it would be much more difficult for those bold statements to be made simply to serve a particular purpose.

“…hold Britain’s pubs, bars and off-licenses to account for the nations binge drinking culture…” seems very convenient excuse for the very many factors that lead to alcohol related problems. Rather than deal with the actual problem, society as a whole is being curtailed and the vast majority who enjoy consuming alcohol responsibly are being targeted. How different really is it from saying that burglary is on the rise; burglary predominantly takes place at night; so there should be a restriction on how late we are all allowed to walk the streets at night?

Certainly the licensed retail sector can do more, training staff and enforcing responsible alcohol retailing strategies is a start, but the more of a barrage they are put under the more they will dig their heels in. Maybe reward for responsible alcohol retailers is the answer? Why should the local licensee in a village pub and their customers who have had no alcohol related incidents, no binge drink related problems, who provide customers with all the information they need to make positive decisions and who have an effective policy of zero tolerance towards drug and alcohol related crime, be treated the same as a rogue retailer who ignores the rules of law and of the industry, where trouble erupts on a weekly basis and whose drunken customers cause disturbance to the local population, put children in danger or ignore (or worse promote) a drug and binge drinking culture?

Is our society and government that one dimensional that they can not deal with industry players on an individual basis rewarding the good and restricting the bad? Why should the good retailers not open until 2am and the bad one close at 10pm?

So let’s look at the real problem and how these statistics might be read by someone who does not have a political axe to grind and who would not say black is white if they thought it would contradict what the other party has said. There are 460 pubs in the country that have 24-hour licenses. Being generous, each one might have an average capacity of 200, so in total 10,000 people will be able to be drinking at any one time 24-hours a day assuming they are so popular that they are at capacity 24 hours a day…. There are somewhere in the region of 56-58 million people in the UK. That to me suggests that just under 0.02% of the population is drinking 24 hours a day or binge drinking (as the opening hours are one of the main reasons some politicians give for our binge drinking culture). This is of course assuming that the 460 pubs with 24-hour licenses are actually using them every day, rather than just using them for a few extra hours here and there and for special occasions…. I would be really very grateful to know where these 24-hour pubs are, as I have yet to come across one, maybe you can email me and let me know and I will don my stab proof vest and pay you a visit.
Do you feel my analysis is a little flippant? If you think yes then you are right, it is, but do you think it is any more flippant then the reporting in much of the media or the points scoring by 'our' politicians in the House of Commons who seem only to have one solution, prohibition. Did history teach us nothing?

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

Pub smoke campaigner fined £500

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Title – Pub smoke campaigner fined £500
Source – Metro
Date – 6th November 2007

In everyone's lifetime laws change and this change alters the status quo for those affected, but all too soon we accept changes and wonder how we ever put up with things the way they were before.

Who would ever accept someone lighting up a cigarette on a tube platform in London or on a transatlantic flight? Yet it was only in 1987 that the Kings Cross fire that killed 31 and resulted in enforcement of the smoking ban throughout the London Underground and only since the 1990’s since smoking was banned on all flights. How long will it be before not smoking in pubs and restaurants will be entirely normal to all of us?

Those who oppose the ban are fighting a loosing battle as are their businesses. Protest is the right of everyone in our society, but not when it involves breaking the law.

Surely no one can be in any doubt who the winners and losers are in the retail licensed sector, following the ban. Those outlets that embraced the ban as an opportunity, have been rewarded in the most part with success. In many cases they have increased trade by simply providing suitable facilities to accommodate smokers and benefiting from the smoke free environment by increasing sales on their improved food offering as well as making their venue more accommodating to a wider audience, specifically female friendly.

At Beyond The Blue we provide a comprehensive portfolio of BIIAB accredited licensed retail sector courses including the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR), National Certificate for Personal License Holders (NCPLH), National Certificate for Designated Premises Supervisors (NCDPS), National Licensees Certificate - Drugs Awareness (NCLDA), Professional Barpersons Qualification (PBQ) as well as the Award in Conflict Management (ACM).

We can also help you with consultancy projects that can examine your business and help you become more profitable. We examine those systems in place that require change and strengthen those that may have slipped. Many managers end up being so close to their businesses that they simply can’t see the problems staring them in the face, we can all identify with that situation; but the brave ones ask for help to see them and realise the rewards.

If the smoking ban has hurt your business, it is never too late to embrace the opportunities it provided and to re-claim your old customers from your competitor.



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

Stamping out staff assaults

Title – Stamping out staff assaults
Source – Metro
Date – 6th November 2007

Assaults on staff in any workplace in unacceptable and all employers have a duty to work with the authorities to reduce and minimise the risks to their staff. As quoted by Chief Constable Ian Johnson “staff assault….. is not an occupational hazard” in no working environment should any employer accept any level of staff assault.

Although police involvement can be part of the solution, it has to be in conjunction with effective in-house measures looking at the working environment, protective equipment and most importantly staff training.

We offer Conflict Management and Resolution courses and Physical Intervention courses specifically designed to suit the working environment of the client. Through a Training Needs Analysis we evaluate the training needs and provide training solutions. Through our consulting service we can help you devise solutions to your workplace violence problems and reduce their incidence.



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

BRC survey reveals human cost of retail crime

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Title – BRC survey reveals human cost of retail crime
Source – British Retail Consortium
Date – 30th October 2007

Retail crime is on the increase, but more alarmingly acts of violence and abuse against retail staff are on the increase, as the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) prove and these are just the reported figures. Every retailer knows that the actual figures are undoubtedly much higher as many retailers simply don’t have the time or confidence in the system to report all acts of violence, aggression and abuse they face. Sadly some even accept it as a natural part of their working environment, which is a step too far.

With over half a million reports last year alone, even these official figures equate to nearly 10,000 incidents of abuse or violence in these workplaces every week, a figure that when taken in conjunction with the many more unreported incidents, is truly frightening.

The BRC suggest that a different attitude and approach needs to be taken by the authorities, police and courts towards those criminals that prey in the retail environment and this is certainly the case. However as that campaign moves forwards, all employers also need to be looking at better ways of protecting their own staff from such incidents, in their own workplace.

We offer Conflict Management and Resolution Courses designed specifically for the environment in which your staff are employed. We carry out a Training Needs Analysis prior to the course to address the root of the problems employees are facing and then deliver courses that are relevant to their every day needs. Our courses can help to reduce the levels of violence and aggression faced by your staff through good practice; this in turn can reduce the stress levels of your employees and can reduce overall staff costs through the resulting reduction of absenteeism and stress related sickness. For high risk environments we can also provide Physical Intervention Courses that teach low impact personal safety techniques, these allow individuals to escape potential physical violence, without the need to use strength or force.

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

Home office plans undercover police ‘spies’ in pubs

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Title – Home office plans undercover police ‘spies’ in pubs
Source – Guardian Unlimited
Date – 7th October 2007

An industry in outrage over 'spies' being planted to try and catch people out, but surely not an industry that didn’t see these kinds of steps coming. One of the most fundamental changes in the Licensing Act 2003 that will have a significant long term effect, is that the reins were taken from magistrates and handed to local authorities. This move in effect politicised licensing policy more then ever and pushed alcohol related anti-social behaviour, if not to the top of the political agenda, then close to it.

Many within the industry are still unaware of the sensitivity of the subject and the potential that one or two high profile incidents could be the excuse that the government is looking for to throw more regulation and costs the industries way. Those working within it have to start acting now.

If you run a licensed retail premises of any kind ask your cashiers, waiting staff or bar staff what the fine is for serving someone who is drunk? The vast majority will look blankly at you when you tell them it is an £80 fine. Ask them who is responsible for paying the fine and watch as their jaws drop when you tell them, it is them personally. Now consider that you have employed these individuals and not provided them with the appropriate training to understand their legal responsibilities and the consequences of breaking the law; how long will it be before they start turning round and blaming the employer?

Any employer working within the licensed retail sector has a responsibility to ensure that staff receive adequate training in their different areas of responsibility, training can no longer be restricted to how to pour a good pint and where the crisps are stored.

We provide a comprehensive portfolio of BIIAB accredited licensed retail sector courses including the Award in Responsible Alcohol Retailing (ARAR), National Certificate for Personal License Holders (NCPLH), National Certificate for Designated Premises Supervisors (NCDPS), National Licensees Certificate - Drugs Awareness (NCLDA), Professional Barpersons Qualification (PBQ) as well as the Award in Conflict Management (ACM). We can also help you with consultancy projects that can examine your business and help you become more profitable. We examine those systems in place that require change and strengthen those that may have slipped. Many managers end up being so close to their businesses that they simply can’t see the problems staring them in the face, we can all identify with that situation; but the brave ones ask for help to see them and realise the rewards.

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

Dog collar clergy at risk of attack

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Title – Dog collar clergy at risk of attack
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 7th October 2007

For most people in society a minister from any religious background would be considered a pillar of the community, we would expect such a vivid symbol as a dog collar to afford protection from abuse, aggression and attack, but sadly some elements within our society seem to no longer have any values at all.

If violence in the workplace generally remains under reported, it is a certainty that violence and aggression towards religious ministers is certainly under reported, so we can expect the actual figures to be much higher then this report suggests. It also only concentrates on the Christian church, in today’s society we can expect that violence towards other religions leaders to sadly be potentially even higher.

By their very nature, religious ministers from every religion believe in compassion, forgiveness and understanding, three qualities which themselves should provide protection from violence, but clearly this is not always the case.

We believe that the fundamentals of our Conflict Management and Resolution course and our low impact Personal Safety Training provide effective skills for individuals from a wide spectrum of work backgrounds. Our targeted training courses are tailored to meet the specific needs of the client.
Religious beliefs are in the most part thousands of years old and the way they are taught and practised has often not changed at the same pace as society has eroded. With our expertise we can provide you with skills and perspective that don’t require compromise of beliefs to be effective, but can provide effective measures to reduce abuse and violence in any workplace.

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

Where crime is on the wrong track

Title – Where crime is on the wrong track
Source – Staines Leader
Date – 27th September 2007

This local report is repeated across much of the country. Violence on the railway networks has risen again and although violence is certainly the most worrying statistic, other crimes add and exasperate the situation. Also on the rise is theft, criminal damage (graffiti etc.), harassment and of most concern; racially aggravated incidents.

The cycle of crime increases public fears and those of the the staff employed. Stations covered in graffiti or where theft is common leads to fear and mistrust and becomes a comfortable environment for those perpetrating the crimes and so the cycle continues. A comprehensive solution is required that addresses all these issues. The starting point is to empower the staff, reduce their fear and stress levels in the workplace and they in turn will provide confidence to the legitimate customers and allow them to reclaim their station.

We are specialists in Conflict Management and Resolution training that is a proven method of helping staff deal with violence and aggression in the workplace, in a safe and proactive way. Our approach based on a Training Needs Analysis of the workplace of our clients, which allows us to tailor courses to meet the specific needs of your employees and the relevance of the course makes the learning outcome more effective.

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

Fears over fire safety in hotels

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Title – Fears over fire safety in hotels
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 19th September 2007

Changes in the law are welcome when they reduce the burden of paperwork or improve safety standards, but all too often these changes can take years to work their way through the system and become effective.

The change in emphasis of responsibility brought about by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, from a fire certificate to effective self-assessment will certainly work in favour of large hotels and chains that either employ experts in-house or can afford expensive consultancy firms and spread the cost by offering large contracts covering the whole chain. For many smaller hoteliers who have always taken their responsibilities seriously there is no great change and a little less red tape to get through.

The worry is those at the bottom end of the scale, those hotels whose standards ruin the reputation of the majority and have traditionally ignored or been ignorant of the dangers of fire will actually get worse. Those establishments who used to clear the fire escapes on the day of the fire officer’s inspection and spend the rest of the year re-cluttering the same escape routes, rather then finding alternative safe storage space, now might not even de-clutter once a year. But after a tragedy like this there can be no excuse for anyone accepting anything but the highest standards.

Fire safety is also often not high on the skills base of hoteliers, so getting help from experts is vital to make sure you get your fire safety priorities right first time.
We can assist with fire safety plans, fire risk assessment and evacuation plans. We offer Fire Safety Training for your staff (an essential part of any fire safety action plan) and Consultancy to help you meet your legal obligations.

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

Don’t give the games away

Title – Don’t give the games away
Source – Unknown
Date – 6th September 2007

This article caught my eye half an hour after leaving a usually excellent tapas bar in central London. In a restaurant where I have been repeatedly over the years and experienced a great atmosphere, excellent food and good service, on that day we had a rather different experience and had commented over our lunch how on that day it reminded us of Fawlty Towers.

But outlets in London as elsewhere should worry more about their long term prosperity rather then just during an Olympic year. London is a year round tourist destination and many premises rely on that element for their regular income. But to do so at the risk of your regular customers is a risk too far. Ultimately tourists and locals want the same thing and if you look at any successful operation you will note the one consistency; great service.

On our visit to our Tapas bar, it was obvious that the waiter was new, although authentically Spanish, it was unfortunate that his English was so minimal that the ordering process itself was a trial and as we had predicted, we were never going to get exactly what we ordered. Fortunately the tapas format does allow for these mistakes in that even if half your order is wrong, you still have some food to be getting on with while the rest of your order is corrected. But when even the water doesn’t turn up, the amusement soon turns to frustration and the lack of English means that even the apology is lost in translation. Ultimately had this been our first visit it would also have been our last and even though we love the place, even if we do give it another chance it will be their last chance.

Staff training is an essential part of any business and is even more vital in this type of environment, we all know that a large part of our bill is the service otherwise we may as well go to a supermarket and cook for ourselves at home. The Olympics are set to provide a windfall to many such businesses in London and the UK as a whole, but if that is the only incentive you have to get your business right then you are already getting your business wrong.

At Beyond The Blue we offer a wide range of courses to anyone working in the licensed retail sector as well as consultancy services which can include a mystery shopper programme to allow you to independently evaluate your services. Unbiased evaluation is often impossible from within a business as staff are too close and have far too many preconceptions to be objective. For those working in the licensed retail sector we offer the portfolio of BIIAB accredited courses.

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

Assaults on rail staff increase

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Title – Assaults on rail staff increase
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 23rd August 2007

With ever increasing numbers of assaults against staff in many working environments including rail workers, the approach that these staff take, along with the co-operation and proactive campaigns by the police and other authorities, can significantly reduce the effect violence has on the every day lives of customers. As they continue to work towards stemming the tide of vandalism, harassment and assault and reversing the number of recorded assaults against the public and their colleagues they also need the support of their employers.

To achieve this, rail workers and their employers need to seek training in subjects that will allow them not only to control their areas of responsibility with more confidence, but also to develop approaches that allow them to achieve this without placing themselves in any danger.

Finding the balance between dealing head on with the bullies and vandals that plague their industry, transport workers need to examine their approach to these problems and employers need to consider the situations in which their employees are being asked to work. They all have to make every effort to protect their legitimate passengers, but not at any expense and reducing assaults against staff also has to be a top priority.

The balance of protecting staff and customers can only be achieved by effective operational systems being in place and solid training for staff.
Beyond The Blue are specialists in Conflict Management and Resolution training that is a proven method of helping staff deal with violence and aggression in the workplace, in a safe and proactive way. Our approach based on a Training Needs Analysis of the workplace of our clients, allows us to tailor courses to meet the specific needs of your employees and the relevance of the course makes the learning outcome more effective.

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

Bouncer shot for telling clubbers to stop smoking

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Title – Bouncer shot for telling clubbers to stop smoking
Source – Evening Standard
Date – 24th July 2007

The smoking ban in England was a controversial issue. Non-smokers loved the idea and smokers felt abandoned and exiled into the cold. Some managers embraced it and others ignored it at their peril. But everyone had to enforce the ban to remain operational.

What few had anticipated, was that the ban would lead to aggression and violence. In the tragic case of James Oyebola, a Door Supervisor, ex-heavyweight boxer and Olympic bronze medallist, who was shot several times in the head and died in hospital a few days later, was that it was yet another flash point for door supervisors across the country to contend with. This senseless and cowardly killing just highlights further the dangers faced by staff (on or off duty) when they intervene to deal with even the most seemingly mundane situations.

Door Supervisors continue to work together to help each other maintain safety in their various workplaces. In many town centres organised schemes are in place to allow door supervisors to summon help when they need it from colleagues working in different venues in the same town. Sometimes these formal arrangements are backed up by radio communications, but they are also often informal arrangements where door supervisors simply know each other well and will socialise after work or check up on each other, in order to both inform themselves and to feel part of a community that looks after its own. When this is done in a professional way it can enhance the safety of individuals considerably and it makes what can be a very isolating job, feel more community based.

Door Supervisors get a very bad press, even now several years after the SIA introduced a system of licensing and eradicating the criminal element from the industry, the press still use the negative connotations in the word 'Bouncer' to describe those people that work the most antisocial hours, often in very hard conditions, for a relatively low rate of pay and spend every night putting themselves on the line to protect others and uphold the law.

James was more then a bouncer, he was an Olympian and a professional door supervisor working alongside colleagues to uphold the law.


Beyond The Blue is a Training, Consultancy and Event Management company set up to provide professional training to those working in the security industry and the licensed retail sector and to bring the professional skills now being recommended by the SIA and other sector bodies to a wider public and corporate organisations. Our Conflict Management & Resolution Course enables individuals working in any workplace where conflict occurs, to act effectively to resolve it before it turns to aggression or violence. For individuals wishing to get into door supervision, we also run National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS).



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

Doorman shot dead shielding girl clubber, 21

Title – Doorman shot dead shielding girl clubber, 21
Source – London Lite
Date – 16th July 2007

Had Kolawole Babadiya been an ordinary member of the public or had he been a public servant such as a police officer, this story would have made headline news. A man putting other people’s safety in front of his own and protecting a young lady from harm selflessly. But Kolawole worked as a door supervisor in an industry that still has a bad name and is still looked upon by the outside world, as a kind of underworld that they would rather not get involved with or know too much about.

It is undoubtedly true that there were underworld elements in the security world for many years, but the Security Industry Act 2001 started all of us working in the industry, on the path of professionalism and it is down to all of us to ensure that we take it further and make it better. Employees and employers alike have a duty to the public and their colleagues, to ensure that the industry grows from these beginnings, to allow us to reflect what those working within it are actually about.

There are door supervisors across the country performing heroics, there is not a night that goes by without someone standing up and protecting those that can’t protect themselves and ensuring they get to go home safely. Sadly however few nights go by without an injury occurring to a door supervisor trying to protect a member of the public or resolve conflict and this heroism often goes unnoticed and unrecognised by the communities they work in. But few door supervisors go into the role for public acclaim, most are happy to know in themselves that they are performing a vital role in society and one that few are willing to take on because of the risk associated and the relative lack of protection they are afforded.

Kolawole Babadiya is one of society’s heroes and should be recognised as such. According to this report he stepped forward to protect another and paid the ultimate price. There is noting that could have protected him from this cowardly attack and he would have been aware of that when he took the action he did. How more heroically can anyone in our society act.

All of us who work in the security industry have a responsibility to continue to improve the levels of professionalism we all demonstrate, in order to ensure that those heroes amongst us can be recognised for their role by the wider society. The respect that this recognition will generate in turn will make our working lives easier and safer.

Training is now mandatory for those working in the security industry. We provide National Certificate for Door Supervisors courses (NCDS) for corporate clients as well as individuals seeking to apply for a Door Supervisors License. But we also provide further training that the SIA, as well as other leading bodies including the police, acknowledge is essential for the industry to progress. These include Physical Intervention Courses (PI), In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI), Conflict Management & Resolution (CMR) and others that we are continuing to develop to help those working within the industry to move to the next level of professionalism.

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

Lone nurses ‘at risk of attack’

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Title – Lone nurses ‘at risk of attack’Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 9th July 2007

This Royal College of Nursing survey reiterates what anyone working in the NHS, whether they work alone or as part of a team within a surgery or hospital already knows; the NHS is not an altogether safe place to work and the problem of aggression and violence faced by all healthcare workers, remains at an unacceptable level.

There can never be a reasonable excuse for any individual saying a bad word to a health care worker in the course of their duties, let alone acting aggressively or violently. These individuals are the ones we call to our aid when we most need assistance and anything but thanks, is simply unacceptable.

However we are also all aware that some sections of, and individuals within, our community, either hold different views, are prejudice or are simply unable to control their emotions and their aggressive / violent tendencies. So with this in mind we must not stop working on eradicating any instance of work related violence, but must also prepare those working in these environments to deal with these situations effectively and professionally.

It is clearly proven that to resolve the problem we first need to understand it. In workplaces across the country and across almost all sectors, there is a continuing problem of under-reporting of incidents of violence in the workplace. People affected on a regular basis see these incidents as part of their working environments and something they 'just have to get on with'. It is certainly true that we have to deal with these situations; but reporting them helps not only record the incidents for employers to be aware of and act upon, it can also aid in the understanding of trends, patterns and ultimately solutions to these problems. Reporting can also play a key role in those individuals involved, coming to terms with what happened and preventing re-occurrence in the future.

Ultimately the approach of the Security Management Services of the NHS is a positive one, the solution to reducing the number of incidents of workplace violence within the NHS and other organisations where staff face similar problems is three fold:

1. Reporting, Recording and Monitoring.

2. Training – Especially Conflict Resolution Training and in more serious cases Physical Intervention Training

3. Technology

We run courses in Conflict Management and Resolution (CMR) and Physical Intervention (PI) for clients from a variety of sectors, both private and public. We understand that each situation is very different and research the needs of our clients carefully before tailoring our courses to meet their needs specifically.
Please visit our website at www.btbl.co.uk

Police avert car bomb carnage

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Title – Police avert car bomb carnage
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 29th June 2007

Terrorist attacks have plagued major cities across the UK for decades, the IRA carried out many successful attacks throughout the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s until the ceasefire was finally agreed. Since then there have been several devastating successful attacks and many more failed attacks on the UK’s infrastructure carried out by groups with a suspected links to 'al-Qaeda'.

Many of the IRA’s attacks were directed at areas where the public gathered as well as high profile locations many of which were given verbal warnings prior to the explosions, but there were also attacks without warning that killed and maimed many victims. Suspected 'al-Qaeda' linked attacks seem to take a much more random approach; the targets tend also to be high profile locations but it is conceivable that they consider any target in the UK to be legitimate, areas that are packed with members of the public, targets that will cause the most disruption, targets that will cause the most casualties and devastating injuries and above all targets that will induce fear in as many members of the public and the government as possible; warnings are not given before explosives are detonated.

For people working in the licensed retail sector, transport and high profile tourist areas, this means that the thirty years worrying when the next wave of IRA attacks was going to take place may finally be over, but the stress that accompanies the threat of attacks is back and now they have a new threat to deal with.

In June 2007 the staff and customers at Tiger Tiger in central London had a remarkable escape from what could have been a devastating attack planned for outside their front door, at a time the premises was packed with customers enjoying a night out. Thanks to the vigilance of an ambulance crew who noticed the fumes coming from a vehicle and alerted the authorities, an explosion and certain mass casualties was averted. The emergency services, who acted promptly and decisively at great risk to themselves to make the car bomb safe and evacuate the area, also deserve much credit.

Door Supervisors are once again in the front line of these latest attacks as licensed premises once again become a favoured target for terrorist. Their role in the safety of customers and members of the public is once again paramount and the serious nature of the threat anywhere in the country should not be underestimated. Equally any premises where the public congregate in any numbers under this more random target selection, should be taking measures to reduce the risk to their staff and customers. There is the potential that the more plots the police, emergency services and the public thwart, the softer the target the terrorist will look for; so everyone must remain alert no matter where they work.
Beyond The Blue runs the National Certificate for Door Supervisors course (NCDS) that will qualify successful candidates to works as door supervisors or security guards once they successfully apply for the SIA Door Supervisors Licence. We also run In-house Security Induction Training (IHSI) directed at specific venues usually based on a Consultancy project to develop and reorganise a clients security systems. These courses will examine the role staff play in prevention of any attack, as well as emergency evacuation responses in the case of any threat.

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

Second man held over warden funeral attack

Title – Second man held over warden funeral attack
Source – London Lite
Date – 28th June 2007

Fortunately attacks of this ferocity are rare, but they are certainly not unheard of and cause constant fear and stress, to those employees placed by their work in these environments, on a daily basis.

Certain jobs in society at large are essential to all of us even if we don’t know it or always appreciate it; the police, fire brigade and ambulance service all seem obvious choices as heroes within our society. They all fight to protect us, our friends and family and our way of life, yet they are all subject to regular violence both verbal and physical, some resulting in serious injury or worse.

So if they are our heroes and still face daily abuse and violence, who are our villains and what sort of dangers do they face because of societies label? Well for many people traffic wardens would fit this category perfectly. None of us really want a ticket or worse to have our vehicles towed when we mistakenly (or hoping that we’ll get away with it) park in the wrong place. But without them to maintain our highways we would simply stop moving in our big cities like London. Chaos would ensue, stress levels would rise and even more aggression and violence would manifest itself on the roads.

However everyone would agree that no matter what the provocation or the situation (which has yet to be clarified) there can be no justification for such a viscous attack, but unfortunately most of us also realise that there are people in society capable of this kind of act.

Employers have a responsibility towards their staff; they have to ensure that staff are trained to a suitable level and are clear of what is expected of them. Staff also have a responsibility and that is to follow this training and not put themselves, their colleagues or members of the general public in any kind of risk during the course of their duties.

We run Conflict Management and Resolution courses (CMR) specifically tailored for our clients. We concentrate on the skills required to work safely in the specific environment in which your employees are working. This is done through extensive research and planning prior to any course being run. We also run Physical Intervention Courses (PI) for any employee who finds themselves in high risk environments, so that they can defend themselves against physical attack and remove themselves from that situation successfully.

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

Man killed for bump on Dance Floor

Title – Man killed for bump on Dance Floor
Source – The London News
Date – 24th July 2007

The potential consequences of actions that take place in every club, every night across the country are sometimes taken for granted. An action as simple as a bump on the dance floor can escalate very quickly into an uncontrolled situation that can result in serious injury or in this sad case, the death of a customer.

There is not always the time for staff to react to these situations and resolve them and there is no indication, on this occasion, of action that was taken by the staff, but there is no doubt that training is the first step to providing a safer environment.

The important issues to consider are not just the statutory requirements such as the Door Supervisors License, but additional training, mentoring and positive and constructive management that encourages good communication and professionalism. Training to consider, beyond the statutory requirements, could include In-House Security Induction (IHSI), First Aid, Fire Safety (FS) and Physical Intervention Training (PI), amongst others.

But beyond the need for training, is a cohesive approach to running a venue. Training needs to be carried out across the different staff groups working and not restricted to specifically tasked individuals. The days of bar staff filling the customers with alcohol and doormen throwing them out has gone and staff from the cloakroom to the management need to be singing from the same sheet. This ensures that there is communication between bar staff, ticket issuing staff, cloakroom staff, toilet attendants, door supervisors, first aiders, cleaners, glass collectors and the management. Providing training such as Conflict Management & Resolution (CMR) to a wider group of staff provides more staff with the skills to recognise, deescalate and resolve conflict before it gets out of hand and results in aggression and violence.

We provide training in many areas to help those working in the licensed retail sector and beyond, to provide a professional approach to the venues in which they work. Tragedies like the death of Lee Cook must be a reminder to all those people working in the industry that customers expect those working to be professional, well trained and attentive, in order to maintain a safe environment for them to socialise in.

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

Student shot at Hip-Hop concert

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Title – Student shot at Hip-Hop concert
Source – The Times
Date – 12th March 2007

When parents send their children off to University they expect the experience to be one of learning, not just academically but also socially, to prepare them for the rest of their lives. Most are not naive enough to think that University is purely an academic experience and understand that many students are forced or choose to take part time work to cover the every day costs of living, as well as the odd night out.

But parents also expect their children to be entering a safe and controlled environment, but nowhere is immune from the scourge of gun crime and in this case someone’s son took on a part time job working as a security steward and found himself on the front line and gunned down in the process of his work.

We run both National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) as well as Conflict Management and Resolution courses (CMR) and Physical Intervention courses (PI) for those people working in venues at Universities and Student Unions in these front line positions and other areas where they may face aggression and violence in their workplace.

We do not claim to be able to eliminate this kind of freak occurrence, but we can successfully train staff to reduce the levels of conflict they face in the workplace through management of the situations they encounter and the teaching of conflict resolution skills.


We have over 15 years of experience of working with and alongside young adults and students in the security and licensed retail sector within Universities and Students’ Unions and pride ourselves on our ability to communicate and train this demographic effectively.



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

Man shot in stomach at University

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Title – Man shot in stomach at University
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 11th March 2007

Universities are places of learning; we associate them with safety and serenity not violence and gun crime. But it seems that nowhere in the country is immune from the scourge of the criminal element, who seem to be more and more willing to use weapons as a matter of choice.

This incident at Loughborough University Student Union was certainly not an everyday event, but the seriousness of the incident should leave everyone in no doubt about the dangers faced in even the most unexpected work environments. The student security steward who was shot would have expected to deal with the odd incident of aggression or even violence but would never have expected to face this kind of situation or a gun.

We run both the National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) as well as Conflict Management and Resolution courses (CMR) and Physical Intervention courses (PI) for those people working in venues at Universities and Student Unions in these front line positions and other areas where they may face aggression and violence in their workplace.

We do not claim to be able to eliminate this kind of freak occurrence, but we can successfully train staff to reduce the levels of conflict they face in the workplace through management of the situations they encounter and the teaching of conflict resolution skills.
We have over 15 years of experience of working with and alongside young adults and students in the security and licensed retail sector within Universities and Students’ Unions and pride ourselves on our ability to communicate and train this demographic effectively.

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

Waiter traps predator as he spikes his date’s wine

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Title – Waiter traps predator as he spikes his date’s wine.
Source – The Daily Mail
Date – 3rd March 2007

The staff working within the licensed retail sector and the security industry generally find themselves on the front page of a newspaper when things go wrong, the image of these staff is often perceived in a very negative light. So when we have good news, it is always a disappointment to see it only reported in the back pages of the newspapers. Individuals like Kevin Murphy should be applauded for their vigilance; in this case he almost certainly saved the lady in question, from a serious drug assisted sexual assault.

Drug assisted sexual assault or rape is a serious problem for all staff working within bars, clubs and restaurants, it is the duty of all staff to have the basic knowledge they need, to be able to observe and recognise the signs and symptoms of these predators and intervene when they believe individuals are in danger. It is an area that the press have certainly sensationalised to the point where some reports lead us to believe that almost every drink has been spiked. That is certainly not the case, but one spiking is enough for the industry to take the matter very seriously.


We run a number of courses during which the subject of drink spiking is examined and measures are looked at to enable all staff to assist in the prevention and detection of those that might choose to spike someone else’s drink. Our In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI) and National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) both address the subject and through Consultancy Projects and advice we can offer those working within the licensed retail sector, we can help organisations and venues to provide some protection to their customers.



Please visit our website at http://www.btbl.co.uk/