A statement said ‘it also includes some tricks of the trade used by professional door staff around the world’.

Stop it on the Door is the first in a series of ‘Professional Doorman’ DVDs designed and delivered by former doorman Mark Toner.

During that time he went to college and collected a first class honours degree in education, as well as a Master’s in Training and Development from Bradford University. His Master’s thesis explored the real training needs of door staff in today’s changing work environment.

Mr Toner is certified to train door staff to the levels required for licensing in England and Ireland.

He said: ‘Licensing has had many effects, good and bad, one of the effects of licensing in both countries has been the retirement of some of the most experienced door staff. They decided they weren’t going to do the job any longer.’

‘They weren’t going to work if they had to pay tax or attend a training course so you had these guys with 20 or 25 years experience and knowledge on the doors who just left the industry. So we now had a raft of new people moving onto the door having completed the required training and gotten a licence but they were still arriving on the door with no real idea. What I wanted to do was get them as much information as possible, and a DVD seemed the natural way to do that.’

The company plans to make two more DVDs.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) was accused of “incompetence” after it emerged licences were revoked when it discovered the immigrants’ right to work in the UK had lapsed.

Thousands of three-year licences have been issued to applicants, even though their right to work was due to expire earlier.

There are fears that could mean businesses were misled over the status of employees, allowing them to hold on to jobs by showing valid licences.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said the news was more evidence of “systematic incompetence” by the SIA, and he demanded answers from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.

“Barely a year after they were hauled over the coals for granting 7,000 illegal immigrants security clearance - and trying to cover it up - we now learn that, as a result of loopholes, the Government has granted over 1,000 more licences to individuals whose immigration status is about to expire,” he said.

“When was the minister planning on telling us about this latest debacle? The former head of the SIA resigned over vetting failures last week. At what point will this Home Secretary start to take some responsibility for her department? This episode is yet another illustration of how this Government cannot discharge its first duty - to protect the public.”

The SIA’s systems were overhauled last year after it was disclosed that applicants’ right to work was not being checked, with some illegal immigrants working in Whitehall departments and even guarding the Prime Minister’s car. But last week the authority’s chief executive, Mike Wilson, was forced to quit after confirming his own staff had not been properly vetted. The National Audit Office also condemned the body for going £17 million over budget.

Officials acted to deal with the new “loophole” last month. Letters were sent out to 2,000 individuals who no longer appeared to be allowed to work legally, according to an SIA spokeswoman. “We recently identified (in partnership with the UK Border Agency) some 2,000 licences that are currently in force, where the right to work may have expired,” she said.

“We started appropriate procedures in relation to those individuals. Those who failed to respond with evidence of a continuing right to work (some 1,350) have had their licences revoked and those details appear on the public Register of Licence Holders.”

Until September 2008 Bernard was Executive Director of Service Delivery at the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). Before this Bernard was Chief Executive of the UK Passport Agency and was responsible in this position for the establishment and initial operations of the Criminal Records Bureau until it became a separate Agency in September 2003.

Baroness Henig said:

“I am delighted to welcome Bernard as our interim Chief Executive. The SIA Board and I look forward to working with him. We know Bernard has extensive experience in implementing change management and improving customer service and his appointment will be a great asset to us all as we build on the success and achievements of the SIA.”

Bernard Herdan said:

“I am looking forward to working with the SIA’s expert and dedicated staff at an exciting and challenging time for the security industry. It is important that I can provide the leadership and the continuity to keep us focused on the important work of managing the licensing of the industry.”

I’ll come clean. I went with the intention of writing a certain article. I mean, £5 for all you can drink on a Wednesday night must be irresponsible, right?

I went to write a story about a hideous example of binge drinking, of people downing shots, of people fighting, of people puking and of people so drunk they couldn’t stand up. In the end, I couldn’t write that article. I have to be true, honest and fair to what I witnessed.

And while several of my undercover journalist colleagues from the nationals will, no doubt, report on how much drink they were served for their £5, is that really fair?

For the record I was served four pints of beer, five bottles of beer and four vodka Red Bulls over my four-hour stint at Escapade in Newport. But is that the point? What chance did the bar staff have?

The vast majority of my drinks were poured down the toilet, as probably were the drinks of the other journalists there. So, therefore, I was not staggering, I was not slurring and I was not exhibiting any signs of being intoxicated. So why shouldn’t I have been served?

If you factor in that there were three different bars with at least three different staff on each, unless you were being served by the same person each time, there is no chance they knew how much I was served.

From the start to the finish at 3am, the staff at Escapade were the best trained I have ever seen. No doubt, due to the media coverage, they stepped their game up, but even so it was impressive.

I queued in the rain for an hour to get into the club run by Nexum Leisure. There were two door staff monitoring the queue, which had been barricaded off from the street so people could still pass. The queue was orderly, aside from one of the door staff letting four of his mates jump to the front, but no-one seemed to mind.

One guy next to me in the queue told me it was an “awesome” night last week. He advised me: “The queue for the bar is massive, though, so when you get in, order two or three drinks at a time.

“It should get better at about 1.30am as some people leave because they have work the next day.”

As we were now drenched he added: “It makes me think if it is worth it, but you can’t knock a few drinks for £5 can you? It’s too good to miss.”

Another said to me: “I’m so excited. I’m gonna get badly pissed.”

I was wondering what the hold-up was to get into the club. Surely it wasn’t full already?
 From the start to the finish at 3am, the staff at Escapade were the best trained I have ever seen. No doubt, due to the media coverage, they stepped their game up, but even so it was impressive.
But no, it was just taking time to go through the correct procedures to get people in.

Once inside, and soaked to the skin, I was asked to take everything from my pockets with staff searching through everything and was then patted down.

I paid my £5 at the till and then we were stopped by manager Steve Dew. He briefed each customer in groups of three of what would and would not be tolerated on the evening. He was also checking ID for a second time, in case anyone had been missed.

Unfortunately there was one idiot in my group of three who thought he did not need to know and tried to push past Dew. He was firmly rebuked and told to listen. Still he persisted. Dew called security and he was thrown out with a refund of the £5 he had just paid.

“We don’t need that sort in here tonight, especially with all the media attention,” he told me.

Bar scrum

The deal was you get a drinks voucher and you exchange that at the bar for your first drink. From then on, you return your glass or bottle to get another drink. If you lose your glass that is it — you pay another £5. Often, with these deals a token effort is made to provide food, but not here.

“There will be no drinking at the bar and no downing of drinks,” Dew informed us.

The bar was an absolute scrum as I entered at around 11pm. I tried to keep hold of my ticket so I could get two drinks but the staff were insistent, so I handed it over. Posters plastered against the back bar clearly explained the rules.

On offer were pints of Kronenbourg, Foster’s or Strongbow, bottles of Foster’s, San Miguel or Stella Artois and a few spirits such as vodka and whisky. There were soft drinks like Red Bull, Coke, Sprite and also bottled water.

There was no wine on offer but you could buy a bottle of champagne for £5. All pints were served in polycarbonate glasses as were spirits and mixers. But the bottles were still glass. At the start it was actually quite a challenge to get served so I could get my £5 worth.

From 11pm to around 12.30am, the majority of people did not stray too far from one of the bars so they could queue easily for a refill.

Come 1.30am, people had started leaving and those that were left had almost stopped drinking and had instead flocked to the dance floor to bop to a mixture of cheese, current chart tracks and some R’n’B. One bar stayed open until about 10 minutes from the end.
 The door supervisors at Escapade were razor sharp, almost military in their efficiency at removing anyone who made the slightest false move. It was definitely zero tolerance.
I tried to get staff to not follow orders all night but they stuck to their guns. I ordered two drinks but was told I must have two glasses and the other person must be with me. I swiped an empty bottle left on a table and tried to get two drinks, only to be told that it was one person, one drink.

I ordered a double vodka but was told only singles were being served and that I must have a mixer with it.

I was just about to say that I had lost my glass, when someone beat me to it — a genuine case. Tough, was the answer from staff. You will have to share a friend’s glass or pay another £5.

One person, who kicked up a fuss was immediately escorted away from the bar by the watching security. The door supervisors at Escapade were razor sharp, almost military in their efficiency at removing anyone who made the slightest false move. It was definitely zero tolerance.

A guy tripped down one of the two stairs to the dance floor — gone.

A guy stumbled back off a stool — gone. A guy abused a member of bar staff — gone. A guy pushing through people at the bar — gone.

Atmosphere

Throughout the night I personally saw six people being removed from the club. The supervisors were everywhere. They were at every bar, they were watching every corner of the dance floor and they were also circling the club.

I must say I was apprehensive, to say the least, at going to an all-you-can-drink club on my own. But there was never a threatening atmosphere. In fact, when people noticed me on my own, they came and chatted to me.

One guy, a grave digger by trade, said that the “bouncers” here were “Fu***rs” — they won’t let you do anything, he told me.

I asked if he had work in the morning. Yeah, but I’m working with dead people, he chuckled. It did make me wonder who these people were at the club? At the peak there were around 200 mostly aged between 18 and 25. They were not students as there was a separate floor for them, accessible only with an NUS card. Surely they had work the next day?

I know, at 28, my youth is edging away but there is no way I could get up and do my job properly after being at a club drinking until 3am.

I did not see a fight at the club or afterwards in the street, when the door supervisors continued their military operation of moving people on. In fact, it seemed the youth of Newport were more intent on making love, not war.

With a half hour to go, I approached the toilet to pour away another drink and a young guy ran in and started wretching into the urinal. He puked up a purple-looking fluid — cider and black, I would guess. I joked with him about what he had had to eat but he couldn’t get a word out. He was definitely very drunk.

Aside from that, I saw a girl spill a cider and black down a guy’s shirt at the bar in her rush to finish it and get another. But generally these were isolated incidents.

Dispersal

I left at the end, and yes people were drunk. My hotel room was just 75 yards from the club, so I expected to be up until around 5am with the noise but by around 3.30am, there was silence.

A call to Gwent police the following day confirmed there had been no trouble. A police spokeswoman said a couple of people had been moved on for being a bit loud but that was it. No arrests, no fines dished out. “Drunkenness was not really an issue,” I was told.
 I still think this deal is irresponsible because it encourages people to go out and drink faster to get their money’s worth, and on a day when they wouldn’t necessarily be out until 3am.
Now, what am I trying to say here? I still think the £5 deal is irresponsible. It just can’t morally be right. Would these people have gone out on a Wednesday night until 3am if this deal was not on? No. Were people chucking it down their necks? At the start, yes. Did a lot of these people miss work the next day or were unfit to do much? Most probably. Was it the most drunk I have seen people in a club? No, I would say not.

The fact that you have to always keep hold of your drink also encourages extra consumption. But there is also the element of personal responsibility to consider here and Nexum will no doubt point to the Government’s failure to act against cheap supermarket alcohol too.

Times are also tough. Price in Newport seems to be crucial. On a tour of the town earlier that evening and again the next day, I found several other bars and clubs, all with their price promotions firmly in the window (see box). Another club, Fire & Ice offers a £10 all-you-can-drink deal on the same night. For its part, Escapade does not have a big banner advertising the deal outside. The one bar that wasn’t advertising on price, Carpenters, was being offered for sale by Fleurets.

I still think this deal is irresponsible because it encourages people to go out and drink faster to get their money’s worth, and on a day when they wouldn’t necessarily be out until 3am. It makes the industry an easy target for the media and Government.

But if these types of deals are going to happen, I have to admit that Escapade’s handling of it was almost faultless.

The Security Industry Authority [SIA] had to march 38 agency workers off its property after a government investigation discovered they did not have the correct papers.

Michael Wilson will leave his post next week as a result of the error, which is the third scandal to hit the body during his year in charge.

Yesterday morning, 32 of the workers had received the necessary security clearance, while six were still awaiting full clearance.

Government guidelines dictate that no workers should be allowed to work for the authority without receiving proper security clearance.

“We have become aware of some failings in the SIA’s compliance with Home Office requirements for security clearance for SIA employees,” junior Home Office minister Alan Campbell told the Commons.

“Some agency workers had not received appropriate security clearance before commencing employment with the SIA. As soon as the Home Office became aware of the issue, it asked the SIA to take immediate action.”

It is the second time the authority has been found to be failing security vetting procedures. Last year, it wrongly handed licences to thousands of illegal immigrants.

Some ended up working as security guards at the Home Office, while another was given the job of guarding the Prime Minister’s car.

The National Audit Office also criticised the authority last month for running £17m over budget.

The authority confirmed that Mr Wilson, who has been in the job for a year, would be leaving. The chairwoman, Ruth Henig, said: “Mike, the SIA Board and I came to the mutual agreement that Mike would leave the SIA next week. The Board and I are grateful to him for all his hard work and dedication to the development of the SIA in the past year, and we wish him well.”

The Tories criticised the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, for not taking responsibility for the authority’s failings. “Yet again an official takes responsibility while the minister ducks it,” said Dominic Grieve, the shadow Home Secretary.

The SIA has published proposals detailing the content that will be offered during forthcoming training courses.

The consultation outlines what someone needs to know and be able to do in the role as a security operative – and includes suggestions from industry representatives, awarding bodies and Skills for Security.

The SIA will publish the revised documents for further consultation early 2009.

What do you think to this, good idea?

The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, called on the SIA to introduce tougher checks of door staff in an attempt to filter out organised crimes.

Simon Reed, federation vice-chairman said: ‘These people turn up at licensed premises and say ‘We’re going to give you door protection and you’re going to pay us, or else.’’

‘It’s being carried out by these guys who are legitimised by the SIA. SIA licensing, unfortunately, gives it a credible aspect. We know of landlords who have decided to close down and leave the business because of this problem. The SIA needs to be far more strict about who it gives these licences to.’

The SIA have in fact relaxed its rules on handing licences to doormen with a criminal record this month, claiming it would bring ‘greater flexibility and increased fairness’.

SIA spokesman Robert Buxton said: ‘I was not aware of these allegations. We will take any evidence we can get from the police and we will look at it with interest.’

Last year Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, revealed the SIA had licensed up to 11,000 people who did not have the right to work in Britain.

71 doorstaff across 20 bars and clubs in the town’s centre were checked by Bedfordshire Police and Bedford Borough Council - and every single bouncer passed the test.

SIA’s head of investigation said: ‘Having compliant doorstaff means the public can enjoy a safer night out.’

‘More operations with our enforcement partners will be occurring, so we advise door staff and licensees across the county to ensure that they too, are compliant with the law.’

Bed:Safe project manager, Gill Anderson added: ‘Licensees and doorstaff have a key role to play in providing a safe and respectful night out in Bedford. These results, which are well above the national average, recognise how hard they are working to achieve this.’

Good news, it seems the towns and cities of the UK are really taking the importance of valid security seriously.

There has been a 50% reduction on last year’s drunken related incidents and Insp Ward said credit must go to the town’s licensees and doormen.

Violent offences have decreased by 46% over the year, and were no offences of this kind during August and just one in September.

Tim Ward, Inspector for Ulverston and Furness said: ‘I have been struck by the community spirit and pride in the town. Ulverston is a peculiarity because people know their neighbours well and regularly speak and help each other. We aren’t susceptible to external crime and long may that continue.’

Anti-social behaviour incidents have also dropped by 19%, Ulverston mayor Jeanette Jenkins said:

‘I have always been very proud of youngsters in the town. We live at the end of a long peninsula and escape the majority of the crime that can trickle down from other larger places in the north.’

At Ipswich Crown Court yesterday Greater Suffolk Coroner Dr Peter Dean said he was “deeply troubled” following the death of Florence Smith at residential care home Shaftesbury House in Ipswich.

The inquest heard that the retired carer choked on a jam sandwich in May this year. But of the four staff working at the time, only one had basic first aid training, and this did not include knowledge of how to use the potentially life saving Heimlich Manoeuvre.

And despite the incident happening almost five months ago, Dr Dean said it was “astonishing” that staff at the Sanctuary Care owned home had still not received further first aid training.

He said: “I am really greatly troubled by the evidence that I have heard.

“It does worry me that if the same set of circumstances occurred tomorrow, there would still be nobody there in the home with simple additional training that could help save a life.

“The staff members who gave evidence today are still there doing the same job and have still not received further training and that seems astonishing given the tragedy that took place a number of months ago.

“From the evidence it is clear that there is a need for significantly more training than is currently in place.”

As Mrs Smith was choking, carers attempted to help her before the paramedics arrived. But she lost consciousness, which the court heard would have resulted in brain damage. She died 11 days later at Ipswich Hospital.

Staff members at Shaftesbury House admitted during yesterday’sinquest that they needed more first aid training.

When one carer was asked by Dr Dean that if a similar incident happened tomorrow, would they be in the same position as with Mrs Smith, one carer replied “Yes”.

Speaking after the inquest, Ipswich resident Rosie Jay, 53, one of Mrs Smith’s two daughters, said: “Because she was a fit and healthy person she would have been with us today had they performed the Heimlich Manoeuvre. There was no need for her to die. We had to watch her die for 11 days.

“The staff should have been trained since my mother’s death. We are talking about five months and nothing has been done. It is just not fair for the other residents. It is not the fault of the staff. We have been robbed of a mother. She was not ready to go.”

In recording a verdict of accidental death, Dr Dean ordered that a transcript of the report be sent to Sanctuary Care as well as the Commission for Social Care Inspection.

A spokesperson from Sanctuary Care said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Florence Smith.

“We are contacting the coroner directly to find out his recommendations in this case and we are conducting a full assessment of the transcript of the inquest. Sanctuary has policies that require all care staff to be appropriately trained and has appointed a nationally recognised training provider. We are conducting a full internal investigation into this isolated but nevertheless tragic incident to ensure lessons are learned.”

First aid training is widely available all over the country. All employers have a legal obligation to ensure there are adequate first aid facilities for their staff and patrons at all times. To avoid problems such as this happening you should make sure that your first aid facilities are sufficient to cover all eventualities. This includes making sure you have first aid cover if any of your first aiders are away sick or on holiday - one of the most overlooked situations by employers.

COI-Freelance offers one-day appointed person first aid courses and four-day first aid at work courses. If you would like further information on either of these courses, please call Sue on 020 7237 6007.