Page 28 - Door Supervision Training Booklet

of entry you must first of all explain that it is the policy of the venue that customers allow themselves to be searched by the door staff. Tell them what you will be searching for, i.e. drugs, weapons and any other items not suitable to be taken into the premises, and ask them if they mind you searching them. Most customers will quite happily give their consent, as they realise that attempts are being made to make the premises as safe as is reasonably possible for them to enjoy themselves in. If necessary take time to fully explain the reasons for the search to them in a clear and concise way. If the customer indicates that he does not wish to be searched before he enters the pub or club, you should then indicate to the notice that explains that search procedures are a condition of entry, and inform him that if he does not consent to being searched then he will be refused admission to the premises. If he still refuses to be searched then he should be politely but firmly turned away.
Door supervisors have no other powers to deal with potential customers who refuse to be searched. If, however, you have strong reasonable grounds to suspect that the person is in possession of either illegal drugs or offensive weapons, then you should note the person's description, watch to see which direction he makes off in, and report the matter to the police. They may then decide to search the area for the person and exercise their own powers of search in the street to find out whether his is in possession of such items.
It is most important that door supervisors actually obtain permission from the person they wish to search beforehand.
Searching someone without the necessary consent could result in: -
• Criminal proceedings for assault being taken against the door supervisor
• Civil action (for compensation) being taken out against the supervisor and/or the venue
• A criminal case against a customer found to be in possession of drugs or weapons failing,
if the search itself was found to be illegal because consent was not obtained.
Searches Inside The Venue
As already stated, door supervisors have no automatic legal rights to search any members of the public, and should only normally do so at the point of entry, as a condition of entry. Some premises/managers/companies allow or even ask their door supervisors to search customers once they are inside the premises, normally if they suspect that they have either drugs or weapons in their possession. It is thought by some, however, that door supervisors have no legal authority to do this, even with the consent of the customer. If a door supervisor searches and finds drugs on a customer once they are already inside the premises, and the matter goes to court, there is the possibility that the case may be lost. This is because it might be claimed that the door supervisor had no power to search that person in the first place, particularly if the customer says that he only 'consented' to a search because he was frightened about what might happen if he didn’t. Any items found during an illegal search cannot be tendered as evidence, as they have not been obtained legally. It is recommended, therefore, that door supervisors do not routinely search customers once there are actually inside the venue.
If supervisors suspect or are told by someone else that a customer has either drugs or weapons in their possession whilst they are inside the venue, then the door supervisor should attempt to discreetly observe the customer to gain more evidence. Some venues use plain-clothed security operatives for this very purpose. The management should also be informed, who may decide to
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