Donald Decker – HospitalityLawyer.com

Security in Bars, Taverns, and Nightclubs

Donald Decker — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 20:46:25 +0000

In many parts of countries around the world, the neighborhood bar provides a location for friends to gather. Taverns and restaurants offer patrons a place to drink and dine. Nightclubs offer a high energy atmosphere that combines dancing and the consumption of alcohol. Hotels, motels, and entertainment complexes often contain bars, taverns, restaurants and nightclubs. For the purpose of brevity in this article; bars, taverns, restaurants and nightclubs will be referred to as bars.

Security measures protect people and property from threats and dangerous conditions. This protection extends to all parts of the premises which the patron or employee may be reasonably expected to go and to those parts of the premises that the business has reasonably led them to believe they can go. Bars have a responsibility to provide reasonable protection to patrons and employees on the premises.

There are many threats to safety that may occur at a bar. The possibility of death and injury due to fire is an important issue that has to be effectively addressed. Proper policies and procedures should be established for the safe evacuation of all the occupants on the premises. Bars will have a large amount of cash on the premises. Liquor bottles may be stolen. Employees may be assaulted during a robbery or theft of liquor. Bottles and drink glasses could be used as weapons not only during a robbery or theft; but during a fight between patrons or an assault of an employee. In some circumstances, an employee can effectively handle a disruptive patron by using verbal and nonverbal (physical actions and demeanor) skills to diffuse the situation. An effective method is asking a disruptive patron to leave the bar. If the patron refuses, advise the patron that he/she has the opportunity to leave on their own or the police will be contacted to remove them from premises. Employees should be properly trained in the policies and procedures established by the bar to address the aforementioned threats and improper behavior that may occur on the premises.

Assaultive behavior can occur between patrons. Managers, waiters, waitresses, and bartenders may be assaulted by intoxicated or combative patrons. An employee policy should be in place identifying when the police and/or management should be contacted when there are violent or disruptive patrons. If security personnel are on site, the employee policy should identify when security personnel should be contacted.

Consumption of alcoholic beverages by everyone working for the bar during their work hours should be prohibited.

Security Personnel

Bars, taverns, restaurants, and nightclubs are usually the busiest on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Most assaults occur on weekend nights. If assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property, security personnel should be employed. Security personnel in bars are often referred to as bouncers, doormen, and floor men. The role of security personnel is to protect people and property. This responsibility includes patrons and employees.

The hiring, training and supervision of security personnel is an important aspect of providing effective security. One of the best methods of crime prevention is the obvious presence of security personnel. It is essential that security personnel be recognizable and conspicuous.

Proprietary and Contract Security

Security personnel can be proprietary or contracted. Proprietary security personnel, also known as in-house security, are employees controlled by the company that is providing security for its facilities and other property. They receive instruction and supervision from their employer. Contract security personnel are employed by an outside security firm. They provide security services to a business customer, but are managed by the contracted security firm.

Hiring of Security Personnel

Hiring of applicants should take place after a reasonable background check is conducted. This responsibility is one of the most important priorities for security management. The background check often includes requirements identified by a governmental entity. A business’s responsibility to its patrons is to provide effective security through proper hiring practices. The hiring of security applicants is a critical part of establishing and maintaining an effective security force.

Training of Security Personnel

Adequately trained security personnel are essential to achieve management’s goal for employees to properly perform their duties. What management wants and how management wants it done is reflected in the training of security personnel. Without the proper response of the appropriate employees, the security measures in place are often ineffective with respect to the safety and security of the patrons and employees of a business. Security personnel should know what their responsibilities are and how to properly carry them out. By security personnel being properly trained, their actions will be in compliance to the policies and procedures of the business.

The importance of employees following proper training is essential to a proper response. Security personnel, not assigned to a stationary post, will move throughout the premises and observe patrons for reasonable behavior while they patronize a business establishment. It should be remembered that security personnel have the same rights as a private citizen. When appropriate, reasonable force should be used by security personnel. If two or more patrons are involved in a fight, they should be removed from the premises. An effective method is to eject the more aggressive patron or group of patrons first and wait until they vacate the area of the premises before ejecting the more passive patron or group of patrons.

Monitoring Performance of Security Personnel

The responsibility for supervising security guard performance should be executed by someone who moves throughout the premises. Security personnel should be properly hired, trained and managed. When security personnel’s actions are improper, it may be attributed to inadequate hiring, training, and/or supervision.

An effective strategy of controlling assaultive behavior is to position a security guard/security personnel at bar entrances and exits. This will control access into the building by confirming a patron is the proper age to enter and is in compliance with bar policy for entrance into the building. Additionally, the actions of patrons outside the front door and inside by the front door can be monitored. Crowding around the bar and on the dance floor creates the risk of patrons accidentally bumping into each other. This can lead to fights between patrons. These are areas of the premises which may need to be monitored if assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property.

Bar security is important for the patrons and employees of the bar. It is essential that all workers on site are properly trained in the policies and procedures of the bar. An effective response to a threat, dangerous condition or improper behavior is required.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Donald Decker — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 16:00:54 +0000

The hospitality industry provides or the safety and security of its patrons and employees on its premises. This responsibility extends to all parts of the premises to which patrons and employees may be expected to go and to those parts of the premises that the business has led the patrons and employees to believe they can go. Security is one of the most important issues confronting the hospitality industry today. Parking lots and parking garages are facilities used by businesses to accommodate the vehicles of their patrons and employees. These facilities take up a large amount of area, but have low levels of activity compared to the business they support. There will only be a small percentage of people in the parking facility compared to inside of the building of the business. As a result, parking facilities have become likely locations or criminal activity. Facilities that experience a lot of property crime create a heightened risk or violent crime. There are some general problems inherent in parking facilities that make the security of patrons and employees challenging. A criminal’s vehicle most likely will not be noticed in a parking facility. “For a security measure to be preventative, it has to be designed to physically stop a potential criminal from committing a crime.” Also, parked vehicles provide a hiding place for a criminal and can block the distribution of lighting to the area that a criminal may be located. Security is more problematic for parking garages. Parking garages allow more vehicles to be parked on the same amount of land. The ability to see and be seen in one’s surroundings, known as natural surveillance, is reduced in parking garages. This is because parking garages can be partially or fully enclosed, elevated above ground, having multiple levels, or have ramps that provide access to the multiple floors of the facility. An effective way to determine i the security in a parking facility is adequate is to conduct a security survey. A security survey identifies the vulnerabilities of a facility by determining what threat exists against the present site security. By conducting a security survey, the owner and/or manager is proactively analyzing the property for crime foreseeability. Crime foreseeability is the reasonable expectation of a criminal act to occur. If a crime is not foreseeable, it doesn’t mean that the crime isn’t possible. It means that the crime was not reasonably foreseeable at that time, at that location, and under those conditions. There is no perfect security solution when determining how to address the security of a property. Flawless crime prevention is not reasonably obtainable and not required, but providing reasonable security is. Reasonable security measures should deter or prevent criminal activity. For a security measure to be a deterrence,it has to have a psychological effect on a potential criminal. It discourages the potential criminal from committing a criminal act. Examples of deterrents are adequate illumination of a parking lot, closed circuit television (CCTV), and signs posted indicating security guards patrol the area. For a security measure to be preventative, ithas to be designed to physically stop a potential criminal from committing a crime. Examples of preventative security measures are a locked door and a security guard stopping people from entering an area. Security measures can be active or passive. Active security measures are the result of direct human involvement and the use of specialized equipment. Examples of active security measures are actively monitored CCTV and security guards. Passive security measures are the security measures that incorporate the concepts of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design(CPTED). CPTED incorporates psychological barriers for deterring a potential criminal’s behavior. By properly utilizing the concepts of CPTED, deterrence of criminal activity can occur. CPTED Concepts:

1. Lighting Lighting is an important security measure in a parking facility. Adequate lighting is a deterrence to criminal activity. It can contribute to the other CPTED concepts and active security measures.

2. Natural Surveillance

Natural surveillance is a concept that applies to everyone that is in or near a parking facility. Not only does it apply to people in the parking lot or parking garage,it applies to people outside of the parking facility or inside the business associated with the parking facility. The ability of people walking by a parking lotor looking out the window of a business to view the activities going on inside the parking facility enhances the security of the facility. In some parking facilities, adequate natural surveillance may be all that is needed to provide reasonable security.

3. Access Control

Access control is an important means of reducing criminal opportunity. Access control is gained through controlling the entering and exiting of pedestrians and vehicles. Proper security of the perimeter of the parking facility enhances access control of the facility.

4. Signs and Graphics

Signs and graphics that are properly located in a parking facility can help pedestrians find where they want to go and minimize their chances of becoming a victim of crime. Additionally, a sign indicating the area is under surveillance or there are security patrols of the area may be a deterrence to a criminal. A graphic is described as a symbol that sends a message in a picturesque manner. An example is a CCTV camera indicating the area is under surveillance.

5. Natural Territorial Reinforcement

Natural territorial reinforcement provides a distinct boundary between public and private areas. The purpose of these boundaries is to send a message to a potential intruder to avoid this area. Natural territorial reinforcement is achieved by landscaping, signs,and ences. It is important to remember to allow or the natural surveillance of the area from the outside; keep landscaping at the proper height and have fencing that is open in its design.

In addition to the preceding five concepts of CPTED, the following two concepts have evolved and are also considered part of CPTED: 1. Maintenance of the Area The maintenance of the area is important to suggest to any potential intruder that the area is well cared for and crime-free. Garbage or debris, let in the area,suggests that the area is not cared for and there is no one responsible for the area. Abandoned vehicles should be removed from the area. It is important to portray the image that someone cares or the area and is responsible for it. 2. Support by Legitimate Activity

There may be areas that are difficult to protect because of their location. These areas can benefit from the placement of a legitimate activity. These legitimate activities can include having a Police substation or a maintenance shop or offices located in the immediate area. Active security measures can complement the overall CPTED features in a parking facility. Active security measures can help compensate or a deficiency of CPTED features. An example of this is a parking lot that is a dead end and there is no natural surveillance of the parking lot from the building. Natural surveillance of the parking lot area becomes less and less as a person walks farther away from the building towards the end of the parking lot,where fewer people have parked their vehicles. The lack of natural surveillance can be addressed by CCTV and/or the presence of security personnel patrolling the parking lot.

Some active security measures are:

1. Security Personnel

One of the best crime prevention methods is the presence of security personnel. It is important that the security personnel be recognizable and visible. They should be properly equipped to perform their duties. Security guards should conduct proper random patrols of an area. This would prevent the predictability of the whereabouts of a security patrol by a criminal.

2. CCTV

CCTV provides surveillance that can detect criminal activities and record the camera footage. Conspicuous CCTV can be a deterrent to a criminal. There are some difficulties in monitoring parking facilities because of shadows, spaces between parked vehicles; and columns, ramps, and walls in parking garages.

The effectiveness of security measures decreases without a meaningful response to a situation. Proper policies have to be in place, so appropriate personnel respond to the situation. The hospitality industry has a responsibility to provide or the reasonable safety and security to its employees and patrons. Parking facilities have become one of the most likely locations for criminal activity on a commercial property. Proper CPTED concepts can provide a deterrence to procedures criminal activity. Active security measures can help compensate or the lack of natural surveillance and access control. Policies and procedures should be established or a proper response to any safety and security incident.

Security in Bars, Taverns, And Nightclubs – It’s Not Just the Guards

Donald Decker — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 20:28:37 +0000

In many parts of countries around the world, the neighborhood bar provides a location for friends to gather. Taverns offer patrons a place to drink and dine. Night clubs offer a high energy atmosphere that combines dancing and the consumption of alcohol. Hotels, motels, and entertainment complexes often contain bars, taverns, and nightclubs. For the purpose of brevity in this article; bars, taverns, and nightclubs will be referred to as bars. Security protects people and property from threats and dangerous conditions. This protection extends to all parts of the premises which the patron or employee may be reasonably expected to go and to those parts of the premises that the business has reasonably led them to believe they can go. Bars have a responsibility to provide reasonable protection to patrons and employees on the premises. There are many threats to safety that may occur at a bar. The possibility of death and injury due to fire is an important issue that has to be effectively addressed. Proper policies and procedures should be established for the safe evacuation of all the occupants on the premises. Bars will have a large amount of cash on the premises. Liquor bottles may be stolen. Employees may be assaulted during a robbery or theft of liquor. Bottles and drink glasses could be used as weapons not only during a robbery or theft; but during a fight between patrons or an assault of an employee. In some circumstances, an employee can effectively handle a disruptive patron by using verbal and nonverbal (physical actions and demeanor) skills to diffuse the situation. An effective method is asking a disruptive patron to leave the bar. If the patron refuses, advise the patron that he/she has the opportunity to leave on their own or the police will be contacted to remove them from the premises. Employees should be properly trained in the policies and procedures established by the bar to address the aforementioned threats and improper behavior that may occur on the premises. Assaultive behavior can occur between patrons. Managers, waiters, waitresses, and bartenders may be assaulted by intoxicated or combative patrons.An employee policy should be in place identifying when the police and/or management should be contacted when there are violent or disruptive patrons. If security personnel are on site, the employee policy should identify when security personnel should be contacted. Consumption of alcoholic beverages by everyone working for the bar during their work hours should be prohibited.

Security Personnel

Bars, taverns, and nightclubs are usually the busiest on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Most assaults occur on weekend nights. If assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property, security personnel should be employed. Security personnel in bars are often referred to as bouncers, doormen, and floor men. The role of security personnel is to protect people and property. This responsibility includes patrons and employees. The hiring, training and supervision of security personnel is an important aspect of providing effective security. One of the best methods of crime prevention is the obvious presence of security personnel. It is essential that security personnel be recognizable and conspicuous.

Proprietary and Contract Security

Hiring of Security Personnel

Hiring of applicants should take place after a reasonable background check is conducted. This responsibility is one of the most important priorities for security management. A security applicant should be at least 18 years of age and successfully pass a pre-employment drug-screening test. A criminal record check should be conducted on an applicant, and a reasonable attempt should be made to verify past employment and references. A business’s responsibility to its patrons is to provide effective security through proper hiring practices. The hiring of security applicants is a critical part of establishing and maintaining an effective security force.

Training of Security Personnel

Security personnel should be adequately trained prior to beginning, and continue to be trained once employed. If a security guard is required to be licensed by the city and/or state where he/she works, the security guard should be licensed. The importance of training cannot be overstated. Adequately trained security personnel are essential to achieve management’s goal for employees to properly perform their duties. What management wants and how management wants it done is reflected in the training of security personnel. Without the proper response of the appropriate employees, the security measures in place are ineffective with respect to the safety and security of the patrons and employees of a business. Security personnel should know what their responsibilities are and how to properly carry them out. By security personnel being properly trained, their actions will be in compliance to the policies of the business. The importance of employees following proper training is essential to a proper response. Security personnel, not assigned to a stationary post, will move throughout the premises and observe patrons for reasonable behavior while they patronize a business establishment. It should be remembered that security personnel have the same rights as a private citizen. When appropriate, reasonable force should be used by security personnel. If two or more patrons are involved in a fight, they should be removed from the premises. An effective method is to eject the more aggressive patron or group of patrons first and wait until they vacate the premises before ejecting the more passive patron or group of patrons.

Monitoring Performance of Security Personnel

The management of security personnel should be delegated to a knowledgeable and competent individual who understands the required safety and security responsibilities of the business. If the security personnel are contracted personnel, there remains a responsibility by the business owner or manager to monitor their performance. This responsibility can include assessment of contract employee performance, response of contractor management to the bar owner’s or manager’s concerns, and training. It is important to ensure the contractor is meeting contractual standards, but direct supervision of contract security should be carried out by the management of the contractor. When there is an issue involving contract security personnel, the bar owner or manager should communicate their concern through the management of the contractor. The responsibility for supervising security guard performance should be executed by someone who moves throughout the premises. Security personnel should be properly hired, trained and managed. When security personnel’s actions are improper, it may be attributed to inadequate hiring, training, and/or supervision. An effective strategy of controlling assaultive behavior is to position a security guard/security personnel at bar entrances and exits. This will control access into the building by confirming a patron is the proper age to enter and is in compliance with bar policy for entrance into the building. Additionally, the actions of patrons outside the front door and inside by the front door can be monitored. Crowding around the bar and on the dance floor creates the risk of patrons accidentally bumping into each other. This can lead to fights between patrons. These are areas of the premises which may need to be monitored if assaultive behavior is foreseeable on the property. Bar security is important for the patrons and employees of the bar. It is essential that all workers on site are properly trained in the policies and procedures of the bar. An effective response to a threat, dangerous condition or improper behavior is required.

Originally published on Wednesday, 11 December 2011
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