Get tough drive on NHS violence

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Title – Get tough drive on NHS violenceSource – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 15th August 2006

With over 60,000 NHS staff being assaulted last year (2005) alone the situation with aggression and violence in the UK’s workforce has reached a critical stage. Employers are now starting to take drastic steps to deal with the problem and more high profile policing and security measures seem to be the preferred route for those employers who realise the hugely negative effect this is having on their workforce and businesses.

Beyond The Blue is a training company that was set up to provide services to businesses, organisations and individuals to help people protect themselves against physical violence and aggression. Our Conflict Management & Resolution Courses (CMR) help individuals understand the problem and face the realities. We examine ways to reduce the risks and protect individuals through a variety of sessions. The course covers areas such as good communication skills, recognising the signs of aggression and ways of breaking the problem down to make it possible to resolve the conflict without the need for violence and aggression.

We also teach personal safety skills so that when individuals find themselves in situations where they are the victim of violence or aggression, they can use the techniques we teach to try and remove themselves from it and create time and space in order to get away or call for help. Our physical intervention techniques are all based on 'low impact' methods that use leverage and the strength used against you, rather then your own strength to free yourself from the situation. This means they are suitable for any person of any size or build and strength is no longer the dominating factor. The other advantage of our techniques is that they are often so subtle that the aggressor doesn’t even know they are taking place and this results in less aggression being shown. It is a commonly reported fact that using force against another person generally results in more force being used against you, our methods don’t require force and therefore can often resolve situations without them escalating. They are simple and easy to learn and most importantly they are easy to remember.

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

Bag with a bang

Title – Bag with a bang
Source – Straits Times
Date – 25th June 2006

Although this incident in Thailand is fortunately not replicated in the UK very often, the UK remains on high alert from terrorist attacks and there is always the danger of revenge attacks or civil unrest to contend with.

We also have to be aware that countries which on the surface seem like they are perfectly safe to visit can have an under-reported more dangerous side. For a simple one destination trip this doesn’t pose too many problems as the destination can be researched, however when on a longer trip involving overland routes, you may find yourself transported through the heartland of the conflict. Such can be the case in southern Thailand, a country that still attracts 750,000 British Tourists every year, but which in the south has been struggling with civil unrest for some two years and with over 1200 casualties reported (August 2006 figures).

Beyond The Blue - Safe Gap Year run courses on Gap Year & Independent Travel Safety & Awareness workshop to provide individuals with the information they require to travel safely throughout the world.

Beyond The Blue also provides Consultancy Services to companies and organisations as well as Event Management during which we review staff training and security issues and put measures into place to reduce the risks of determined and random attacks against our client’s interests.

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

The highs and lows of crystal meth

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Title – The highs and lows of crystal meth
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 22nd May 2006

Since this report Crystal Meth has been reclassified as a Class A drug, the category where it truly belongs. An uneasy balance prevails about the right way to avoid the UK falling into the same situation the USA and Australia have with the drug usage spreading like an epidemic, authorities struggle with the best way to approach the subject and making it a Class A drug is just the first step. Highlighting the problems associated with the use of Crystal Meth should make most people aware of the devastation it has already caused in many parts of the world and should convince them that there is simply no way to take this drug in a ‘recreational’ way.

Crystal Meth is an all or nothing kind of drug and the devastation can be clearly seen in the effects it has had in other parts of the world and on users.

The examples of users in this article are certainly not something most people would like to experience, but maybe they don’t go far enough, the really frightening effects of this drug are the physical dependence that is developed before users even realise it and the physical degradation they experience. Crystal Meth users in a short period of time start to look 20 years older than they really are, to the point where friends and family can barely recognise them or for that matter want to recognise them. Ravaged skin, blackened and dissolved teeth that fall out are physical symptoms that most would want to avoid; paranoia and violent aggressive mood swings make others avoid users.

This drug is still relatively unknown in the UK but like many of its predecessors it is creeping in and if it takes hold will have devastating effects on some communities. Drugs awareness is vital in many sectors and drugs awareness training may not be the solution that will stop the spread of Crystal Meth, but it will be part of the process and at a local level it will protect you, your employees and customers.

Beyond The Blue run the National Certificate for Licensees - Drug Awareness (NCLDA) as well as bespoke drug awareness courses designed for specific client

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

Battling an addictive newcomer

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Title – Battling an addictive newcomer
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 22nd May 2006

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.

The addictive properties and devastating side effects caused to users of this highly addictive drug, has already ruined millions of lives around the world and every effort should be made to ensure that the plague does not spread to the UK. We can learn from those countries already affected, that if the use of crystal meth is not tackled now, the outcome will be terrible suffering and social erosion will be felt in any community that it is delivered to.

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 Courses (NCDS) which also cover aspects of illegal drug awareness and understanding.

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

Eleven arrest in club drugs raid

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Title – Eleven arrest in club drugs raid
Source – www.bbc.co.uk
Date – 16th April 2006

Police drugs raids are devastating to businesses and create reputations that are difficult to shake off especially when they are this high profile and the press get hold of them. Door supervisors, managers and bar staff all have role to play in ensuring that venues and events are not plagued by this ongoing problem to the industry.

Beyond The Blue provides staff from all areas of the licensed retail sector and entertainment industry an array of courses to enable them to better act as a responsible member of your team. Through our tailored In-House Security Induction Training (IHSI) as well as Conflict Management & Resolution Courses (CMR) all staff can be better prepared for any of the unexpected situations they might find themselves in the work place. Through our Consultancy Services we can also advise clients on all aspects of the security of their venue and provide tailored Venue Specific Security Manuals for all staff working in the venue, these manuals cover all aspects of the role of staff including specific Fire Evacuation plans.

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

Bouncers bring thugs to book at the library

Title – Bouncers bring thugs to book at the library
Source – Daily Mail
Date – 7th March 2006

It’s a truly unfortunate reflection of the times when places of learning and places normally known for peace and quiet, need security staff to be present before they can open. This is not a trait of society that many of us would be very proud of, but one we have to contend with.

Employers must be aware of the risks within their business and especially the risks to their staff employed in any capacity.

We run courses targeting staff that are not directly involved in the security industry as well as those that are. We can provide your security staff with the specific training they require to carry out their duties through such courses ad the National Certificate for Door Supervisors (NCDS) and In-House Security Induction Courses (IHSI).

We also specialise in providing courses to non security staff who work on the front line and are often the targets of aggressive and abusive behaviour as well as violent attack. Our Conflict Management & Resolution course (CMR) is designed to help these individuals defend themselves against such situations and deal with them in a calm and proactive way. The information and techniques we teach are all designed to deescalate aggression before it turns to violence and allow front line staff to gain the time and distance required to allow security staff or police to arrive and assist where required.


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

Nightclub owner liable for contract bouncer

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Title – Nightclub owner liable for contract bouncer
Source – Financial Times
Date – 25th January 2006

This test case is one that all employers and owners should be aware of; it effectively means that contracting out security aspects of your business does not effectively free you of all responsibility. As responsible employers, we always have to guide our staff in the right direction, we have to set the standards and take responsibility when our inaction or errors result in professional standards dropping or as in this case, when serious incidents result from these lapses.

At Beyond The Blue we only set the highest standards and we are honest about our fields of expertise. We will say no to our clients if we do not think that we can provide the services they require and more importantly we only pursue work that we are confident can reach a positive conclusion.

We can help you outsource effectively or bring the security services of the venue in-house. If clients choose this second option, we can provide consultancy advice and take an active part in securing the staff and training them to suitable standards. The direct control this gives, allows the managers to further protect their interests and can help gel a complete team together, rather then have a disjointed feel to your organisation. Through training and generating documentation and systems for your venue including comprehensive Venue Specific Security Manuals, you as the employer will have a much stronger position in the case of facing liability for the actions of your staff.



Please visit our website www.btbl.co.uk