Posted By Les Welling
Bouncers and the law
They wear black puffa jackets, have walkie-talkies and lurk in corners of nightclubs. Once a law unto themselves, there are now regulations bringing them into check.
The laws regarding bouncers
A recent home office report found evidence of doormen dealing in drugs, turning a blind eye to drug-dealing, and receiving cash for letting dealing take place.
Research estimates there are 170,000 door supervisors in England and Wales. Soon all these doormen will have to be licensed and will break the law unless they are wearing a badge to show they have been trained and vetted. Security staff will have to learn about conflict management, first aid and fire safety to qualify for their badge. Anyone with a conviction for an offence of drugs or violence would be automatically excluded from working.
On the door
Bouncers are renowned for their fickleness on the doors. If they don't like your shoes or your haircut you may well find yourself left out in the rain. Even more frustrating is that the staff are completely within their rights to do this - the law, in this case, is on their side and they can refuse you entry without giving any reason.
Searches
Bouncers can, by law, search you for weapons and drugs. Clubs have the right to search anyone entering their premises, and must provide searchers of both sexes i.e. women to search women, men to search men. They can refuse entry to anyone who refuses a search but they can only insist on searching outside clothes, pockets or bags. Legally, they can only conduct strip searches and searches inside clothes with your permission in private with an independent witness. Only police or customs officers have the powers to strip search you without agreement - if a door supervisor searches inside your clothes or performs a strip search without your permission they may be charged with assault.
If they find any weapons or drugs they can confiscate them and detain you until the police arrive. Anything else taken from you must be returned to you when you leave.
There should be a clearly visible notice displaying the club's searching and complaints policy. If you feel you have been mistreated at a club, try to take down all the details as soon as possible, noting down the names/numbers/description of the people involved and the time of the incident.
If you are unhappy with the way a search has been conducted contact Release who will complain on your behalf. Advice Line: 0207 729 9904 or 0845 4500 215, open 11am to 1pm, Monday to Friday except Bank Holidays.
If they beat you up
If the door staff get nasty, try to stay relaxed. Meeting aggression with aggression leads to confrontation. Talk your way out of the problem: stay calm; lower your voice, speak slowly and clearly. Avoid an aggressive stance: crossed arms, hands on hips, a raised arm is challenging and confrontational. Avoid touching someone unnecessarily. Breathe out slowly to help you relax. Look confident
If they start hitting out, your primary aim should be to GET AWAY, fast. There is no shame in doing this; it's the smart thing to do. Walk away as fast as you can. Don't look back. Try not to panic. Physical self-defence should only be a last resort. It limits your options and commits you to a fight you could lose. It is not weak to walk away from violence. If however you do get beaten up, then you need to take action afterwards. Report any incident to the police as soon as possible, and press charges. Go see a doctor, and get them to make a detailed note of your injuries. This will stand you in better stead if you go to court.
As a victim of violence you may be eligible for criminal injuries compensation. The crime must normally have been reported to the police. Victim Support can give you further information.
The police may take a statement from you and should let you know if someone has been arrested and charged, and whether they have been given bail.
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