DPA's door staff beef up their security training

The best defence in dealing with security issues at nightclubs could be a warm greeting at the door.

Devrae Noel-Simmons, managing director for DPA Security, and his staff received this tip and other top-level techniques for door supervisors last week courtesy of expert Angus Darroch-Warren of Linx International.

Mr. Noel-Simmons said the security business is more professional now than it was 17 years ago when he founded DPA.

He said: “It’s all about the meet-and-greet at the beginning. Back then, bouncers really didn’t talk, they were there to be intimidating.

“They had the attitude of, ‘Don’t come in here to mess about.’ Most of them were ex-athletes, ex-military or ex-policeman.

“Now it’s professional people doing it — people who look at it as a viable business.”

Mr. Noel-Simmons believes the best way to help prevent problems is to help put people at ease as they walk through the door.

He said: “It’s all professional measures up front. It’s to get people to realise there is someone at the door they can talk to. It’s more customer focused.”

In the past 17 years “patrons have become more aggressive”.

Mr. Noel-Simmons added: “The idea of having a good time has gone out the window. I don’t understand why. With the economy change you’d think we’d be more hospitable but we’re not.

“People’s attitude is, ‘This is my space. I command this space and don’t step in my space.’ There’s a lack of respect going through and, unfortunately, in a small community like we have, it’s not needed.”

Racism also raises its ugly head.

Mr. Noel-Simmons said: “If you have a white bartender serving black patrons, if they don’t get their drink on time they feel they have to be rude or nasty to them.

“They have a lack of respect towards the service industry in general — that’s why it’s more important for the doorman, who has now become a door supervisor, to manage that and keep that respect going, to keep that customer service going.

“That way when people walk through the door, it is a place to relax and not a place of aggression. Come in and meet your friends in a trouble-free, worry-free environment.”

Issues Mr. Darroch-Warren worked through included conflict management, physical intervention, health and safety and dynamic risk assessment.

Mr. Noel-Simmons said: “The training was to provide security personnel with the knowledge, skills and techniques to manage situations in a safe and compliant manner.”