NTIA calls for Gov to protect security workers from violence

23-Jun-2023 - Last updated on 23-Jun-2023 at 10:03 GMT

Threat to safety: NTIA calls for Gov to step in to protect door staff (Getty/ somboon kaeoboonsong)

Trade bodies have called for Government to take action to protect security workers against violence, after a new BBC report drew attention to the high levels of abuse they face in the workplace.

The BBC documentary, called Security Abuse On The Door, revealed the threat facing door staff, who reported experiences of serious physical assault, racism and sexual harassment.

Olivia Phillips, a 20-year-old door supervisor in Nottingham, said abuse had been part of job since she started.

She said it was “scary” as customers could hold a grudge, and death and rape threats were “not unusual”.

She had also experienced touching and inappropriate comments, as well as receiving abusive when she refused to entertain comments. She now wears a fake engagement ring to work.

Customers had also tried to come in with knives, and on occasion, guns, she added.

Staff safety

Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill said: “Door Security staff face an unprecedented level of verbal and physical abuse every night that they work, according to the recent BBC survey, something which no staff member deserves to face within the workplace at any time.

“These individuals have a very difficult job to do, in many respects a thankless task too many, but an important one none the less as they work tirelessly to keep members of the public safe.

“We are asking Government to consider changing legislation to protect security workers against violence within the workplace with tougher sentencing. These licensed, vetted and trained workers must be given the same support and protection afforded to emergency service workers since 2018.”

Another door supervisor, Gary Wright, experienced a traumatic brain injury after being punched on shift by a customer. He was then diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. The aftermath of this means he becomes drained physically, overwhelmed by noises, and can’t do a full day’s work.

He is also frightened of getting abused at work again. “I don’t want to die at work”, he said.

Impact on mental health

Wright was emotional in the BBC interview and said his mental health had suffered “quite a deal”.

“You don’t expect to be assaulted at work”, he added.

Ronal Hines, a door supervisor in Nottingham, spoke of the racism he had faced on the job. “You get called the n-word, you get called a monkey”, he said.

Hines added that racism had no age barrier and no limit to what people do as a living. This makes him question whether he wants to stay in this any longer, with many outstanding cases not dealt with.

“I’m not as trusting as I used to be,” he said, “because it just shows that anything could happen at any time, for no reason at all whatsoever, and it could come from anybody, man or women, doesn’t make any difference.”