e-Fill has been designed to make it easier and quicker for applicants to complete their application form.  It also has built in verification to reduce the likelihood of the form being completed incorrectly and returned to the applicant.

Applicants fill in the form online, then print, sign and post it manually along with the required supporting documents.

Users register on the SIA website and log in to use the service. If they have previously submitted an application, the online form pre-populates information such as the applicant’s name, date of birth, town of birth, email address, postcode and national insurance number. The system also allows security providers to complete the form on behalf of their staff.

SIA Director of Service Delivery Stephen McCormick said:

“We are delighted to offer this new service which makes it easier and quicker for applicants to complete their application form. Applicants can track the progress of their application and have online guidance at each stage of the process. The contact centre also has a dedicated option for those who need assistance using the new system.
The launch follows months of testing and trialling to ensure the facility is working correctly and effectively. The development of e-Fill is part of our commitment to introduce e-services and provide a modern service to our customers.”

Suzi says: This great news.  It will make it much easier to complete applications and will hopefully ensure less applications are returned for being incomplete.  As a company sponsor, we at beSmart Training welcome this new intiative.  It will make my job much easier and hopefully quicker too.  What it won’t do is ensure people provide the correct identification which is still a major problem with these applications.   beSmart offers regular SIA licensing courses for door supervision and vehicle immobilisation.  We also have just gained approval to offer the CCTV courses too and will be starting to run those towards the end of September.  For more information on any of our courses go to our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk, or call Suzi on 020 7237 6007.

It has not yet been decided if physical intervention will be compulsory refresher training for licensed door supervisors, but following the consultation earlier this year, there is an announcement expected in the next few months.

Why not enrol now and be ahead of the game.  Also become trained to the same level as door supervisors WILL be trained to from June 2010 onwards.

beSmart’s physical intervention course is accepted as accredited prior learning for the new door supervisor qualification and only costs £100.00 plus VAT for the one-day course, including all handbooks and certification.

If you’re interested, please call Sue on 020 7237 6007, or book online at www.besmart-training.co.uk/physical-intervention-training/.

It is an employers legal obligation to ensure that first kits are available to all their employees and customers at all times.  So don’t delay…. check it now.  If you’re not sure what should be in your first aid kit, below is a list of minimum suggested contents:

• A guidance leaflet
• 20 adhesive dressings (individually wrapped and assorted sizes)
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 6 triangular bandages (individually wrapped and sterile)
• 6 medium sterile wound dressings (individually wrapped and unmedicated)
• 2 large sterile wound dressings (individually wrapped and unmedicated)
• 6 safety pins
• Disposable gloves

Also, if your risk assessment concludes a requirement, employers may include additional materials such as:

• Blunt tipped scissors
• Non-alcoholic wipes
• Micropore tape
• Disposable apron
• Protective equipment
• Clinical waste bag
• Special burns dressings

Remember, no creams, lotions or potions are permitted.  If you have no fresh mains tap water available, you should also consider having sterile eyewash available for the purpose of eye irrigation.  (Do not use sterile water if the seal has previously been broken, if it has already been used on another individual or if it is out-of-date.)

Whilst you’re at it, why not check that all your first aid certificates are still valid.  First Aid Certificates are valid for a maximum of three years so should be checked on a regular basis.  The Health and Safety Executive now also recommend that annual refresher training be undertaken to keep key skills practiced and up-to-date.

beSmart Training run both the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work and the three-day First Aid at Work courses at their London based training centre.   Please call Sue on 020 7237 6007 for prices and dates.

The article says that the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which regulates doorstaff, has agreed to take part in a Home Office campaign to crackdown on the problem.

It’s recognition that doorstaff are able to confiscate ID if they have a procedure for dealing with the documents – the question had been open to debate.

It also represents a victory for the PASS (proof of age standards) scheme because the SIA has also agreed to include awareness of the scheme on its doorstaff training courses.  PASS had previously complained that doorstaff often didn’t recognise accredited cards.

The initiative, in association with PASS, advises young people that if they are caught using fake ID, or ID that’s owned by someone else, they could have it confiscated and may be prosecuted.

The SIA is urging door supervisors to confiscate false ID and hand them over to the police, who will then return the documents to the relevant authority.

Baroness Ruth Henig, chairman at the SIA said: “We are advising licensees and door staff to help ensure fake or false IDs are confiscated and handed to the police.

“Trained and professional SIA-licensed door supervisors play an important role in creating a safe environment for the public when visiting pubs and clubs across the UK.

“Door staff can also contribute to reducing under-age drinking.  Our approved door supervisor training ensures door supervisors are made aware of the PASS scheme.”

PASS chairman Robert Humphreys added: “This campaign is timely and most welcome.

“Many underage young people often see getting past door staff or being served as something of a game, but for those responsible for enforcing the law it’s no joke – in fact a mistake can easily cost them their jobs and even get them a criminal record.

“The clarity of the message is vital – attempting to break the law is unacceptable and could get you in serious trouble.”

The fake ID posters can be downloaded from the Home Office website www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk

Suzi says: lets hope this doesn’t open a whole new can of worms.  Just because a door supervisor is licensed doesn’t make him the right person to confiscate people’s identification.  I mean, just because you have a driving licence doesn’t necessarily mean you a good driver and keep to the rules of the road, does it – it just means you haven’t been caught yet.  I hope the Home Office doesn’t get these people into a whole heap of trouble!

Steven Hopkins, 28, of Woodward Road, Norwich, was tried at Norwich Crown Court after pleading not guilty to the charge of manslaughter which related to the death of Phillip Ward after he was pushed over outside the Chicago Rock Café in Prince of Wales Road in May last year.

But yesterday, the jury of six men and six women returned a verdict of not guilty, bringing an end Mr Hopkins’ ordeal.

The verdict was met with gasps of disbelief and tears from Mr Ward’s family, who said they had been “totally let down” by the decision.

Although the fact that Mr Ward had died as a result of Mr Hopkins’ actions was never in question, it was a matter of debate as to whether or not Mr Hopkins was acting in self defence and whether he used reasonable force in ejecting Mr Ward from the club.

The court had head that Mr Hopkins pushed Mr Ward, 46, as he was leaving the Chicago Rock Café in Prince of Wales Road, after a night out with his wife and friends.

Mr Ward fell backwards and hit his head, suffering a fatal head injury from which he never regained consciousness.

The jury heard the incident lasted no more than two or three minutes but the end result was the death of Mr Ward, from Drayton, near Norwich.

Solicitor Simon Nicholls said: “On behalf of Steven Hopkins I would like to express his grateful thanks to the jury for finding him not guilty in what was a very difficult case.

“Someone lost their life as a result of Steven’s actions and that is something he is going to have to live with for the rest of his life.

“Anyone who understands the difficult job door supervisors have must appreciate how terrible the last five months have been for Steven. He was married only two weeks before this happened. It has been a nightmare for him.

“The decision of the jury to find him not guilty has gone a little way to giving him some sort of closure on the matter and both him and his wife Rachael are incredibly relieved.

“It is understandable that Mr Ward’s family feel anger and bitterness towards him. But 12 ordinary people have heard the evidence against him and found him not guilty.”

Mr Hopkins confirmed his intention to continue working as a door supervisor.

But Mr Ward’s wife Mandy said: “How do you tell a four and six year old that their dad’s killer got away with it?  We feel totally let down,” and her eldest brother Bob Connor added: “We are devastated at the outcome of today’s trial.  Phillip’s family and friends have been dealt a life sentence from which they can never be released.

“In respect of Phillip’s memory we would like to have it emphasised that never, at any time, did he show any aggression to another person and we would like to thank both the police and the family liaison officers for all their hard work to bring this case to conclusion.

“Mandy and the rest of Phillip’s family and friends would like their privacy to be respected to continue to grieve and rebuild their shattered lives.”

The trial has thrown the amount of force used by door staff when ejecting revellers into the spotlight.

During the trial, Christopher Morgan, prosecuting, showed a Norwich Crown Court jury CCTV footage of the incident and said: “There is no dispute in this case that Steven Hopkins killed Mr Ward.” He said that Hopkins had “no right” to eject Mr Ward in the manner he did, and said that Mr Hopkins was a registered doorman and would have been trained in the correct way to eject people.

Steve Barber, owner of Norwich Security Specialists Ltd, which provides door supervisors to some of the clubs on Prince of Wales Road, said that door staff had changed their attitude since Mr Hopkins was charged and were now being more careful about the amount of force they used, regardless of the outcome of the trial.

He said: “If he had been found guilty, it would have opened up a massive can of worms and meant that door staff would have been worried about touching anyone, so might as well not be there. Although I am sad for Phillip’s family, it is the best outcome for the profession.”

Peter says…

I must agree with Steve Barber.  Whilst respecting the family must feel bitter and cheated about the outcome of the trial, it is really the best outcome for the profession.  The current door supervisor training does not teach “how to eject or evict customers”, it just teaches that door supervisors should use only “reasonable and necessary force”.  Later this year, however, the door supervisor training will be updated to include a physical intervention unit which will offer non-violent, non-aggressive way to eject from premises.  This unit will also probably be one of the options for future compulsory renewal training for currently licensed door supervisors.

beSmart Training currently offers the BIIAB Maybo Physical Intervention training course for door supervisors and security guards, as well as other Security Industry Authority approved training and personal licence courses.

For further information on all our courses go to our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk or call Sue on 0207237 6007.

According to Gideon Ben-Tovim, chairman of Liverpool Primary Care Trust, as many as 70% of all recorded accident and emergency admissions during weekends are alcohol related and asserted the consistently high levels of binge drinking in the city – which is, to some extent, a reflection on nationwide levels.

The scheme makes a clear statement to those who a prone towards aggressive behaviour during nights out in the city centres, as the recording equipment can capture and document clear evidence in the event of a crime, which door supervisors are often witness to.

Strict regulatory measures are in place which will ensure that only Merseyside Police and Security firm will have access to captured footage. Should the initiative be extended to more popular nightclubs and bars in Liverpool – or indeed other cities with high levels of alcohol related violence – this could see a definite increase of convictions as the result of incriminating evidence caught on such devices.

So far so good for Liverpool authorities as evidence from the bars where the cams have been trialled over the past few weeks, have shown that they do indeed discourage incidents of aggression in door queues.

Commenting on the effect of such campaigns, Ben-Tovim further concluded that:

“These initiatives are not about preventing people from drinking but are about ensuring people across the city can enjoy alcohol in a responsible way that does not impact on themselves or other residents.”

Government estimates put the annual cost of the proposed extra training between £10.1m and £25.9m.

The top-up training would be compulsory when Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences are renewed every three years. On-going refresher training in physical skills would also be needed.

This is the Home Office’s preferred option outlined in a new consultation, released today.

A statement from the department said the aim is “to protect the public by raising standards of training across the industry”.

Additional training will include physical intervention, first aid, special considerations when dealing with young people and awareness of the threat of terrorism.

Bill Butler, SIA chief executive, said: “We welcome these proposals, many of which were suggested by the Industry.

“They understand the challenges faced by door supervisors and the skills needed to carry out their duties professionally, whilst protecting the public.

“We are encouraging those working in the door supervision sector, training providers and stakeholders to contribute to this important piece of work.”

If the decision is made to implement the proposals, top-up training will be compulsory for all door supervisors from May 2011.

The SIA said it would work with awarding bodies to ensure training is available from October 2010.

The 14-week public consultation can be viewed here: www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

beSmart already offers a range of continued professional development courses for door supervisor such as physical intervention and first aid.  If you want to be ahead of the game give us a call on 020 7237 6007 or visit our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk.

Doorwatch sees door supervisors keeping in contact with each other and police and bringing information on troublemakers to the attention of licensees.

The scheme originated in Tiverton in Devon where it was credited with achieving a 17% drop in alcohol-related disorder. It operates in other parts of the region, plus Coventry, and is expected to start in Nottingham.

Security expert Ian Fox, a director of the Institute of Conflict Management, is helping to co-ordinate the scheme nationally, along with its founders Gerald Eva and Jason Gardner.

There are plans for local coordinators and a national committee, mirroring the set-up of the National Pubwatch scheme.

A central website is being devised to share best practice and promote the positive side of the industry. It will also lobby on various issues affecting doorstaff.

In addition, ideas for campaigns on civil action against thugs who attack doorstaff, and providing a counseling service are being considered. Services would be free.

National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker said: “I welcome anything that improves the professionalism of doorstaff.

“However, I would offer a few words of caution. I would not want to see doorstaff or police using the new organisation to influence the running of licensed premises at arms length.

“The term ‘doorwatch’ suggests a similar function to that already effectively carried out by existing pubwatch schemes. There should be no confusion as to the role of doormen and licensees in the management of licensed premises.”

He suggested a name change for doorwatch to avoid confusion.

Fox stressed: “It’s up to the pubwatch to decide who gets banned. We are absolutely not involved in that decision. Our role is to communicate information that helps make the night-time economy safer for all.”

beSmart Training offers courses for would-be door supervisors on a regular basis.  To work as a door supervisor now you must attend a four-day course and successfully pass two multiple-choice examinations to get the required qualification.  Once you have your qualification you must then apply for a Security Industry Authority (SIA) Front Line Door Supervisor Licence.

For more information on beSmart Training’s courses go to our website at www.besmart-trainnig.co.uk or email us on info@besmart-training.co.uk.

At Grantham Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty to two offences of working as a director without an SIA licence and was fined £500 for each. He was also found guilty of one offence of failing to provide information to the SIA and fined £300 – failing to comply with the SIA’s power to require information was not merely a technical offence, the court heard. The offences are set out in the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

As well as the fines, Livingston was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £12,000, total fines and costs of £13,300.

The SIA’s Formal Investigation Team investigated and took the case forward for prosecution after a referral from the SIA’s East Regional Team. This followed a joint compliance operation with Lincolnshire Police in April 2008.

Sara Brennan, an SIA Head of Investigation, said: “This has been a challenging case but SIA licensing must be adhered to. Livingston ignored the law and this is a clear warning to others that non-compliance will not be tolerated.”

Directors, managers and supervisors of security companies are required to hold at least a non-front line SIA licence.  It is also illegal to work as a door supervisor without an SIA front-line door supervisor licence.

beSmart regularly run courses offering SIA approved security courses.  Check-out our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk for more information.

The new modular qualification structure:

A full certificate for the relevant sector is still required. The new modular format means those undergoing the training (for most sectors) will take common units – core security, and conflict management – followed by a specific unit for each security sector.

A licensed operative who has already passed the two common units will therefore only need to sit the relevant additional specialist unit if they wish to gain a licence for another sector.

The qualifications are taken by applicants for front line licences. Applicants for non-front line licences do not require a qualification because they do not carry out front line activities. Those applying for a Key Holding licence will not need to take a qualification.

As there is a different qualifications system in Scotland, the new regime will be introduced there later. The new door supervision qualification will be introduced from June 2010, and the other unitised qualifications from September 2010.

Several different types of organisation are involved in the creation and delivery of the licence-linked qualifications.

beSmart will be able to offer all sectors of the door supervisor course, security guarding course and vehicle immobiliser course.  For more information visit out website at www.besmart-training.co.uk