‘Increased Security Will Boost Business’
Veteran Bermuda security consultant Devrae Noel-Simmons says the cost of extra bouncers is a price worth paying for the island’s restaurants and bar owners.
Mr. Noel-Simmons, who recently ran for the Warwick Parliamentary seat vacated by former Premier Dr Ewart Brown as a United Bermuda Party candidate, admitted new legislation requiring licensed premises to provide a set ratio of security guards to patrons would be expensive.
But he said it should be viewed as both an investment in future business by nightspot operators and a means of better serving and protecting existing clients.
“Give us the protection of our numbers to allow us to perform and keep their patrons safe,” he said. “This will lead to more people coming out once they know the place they drink and socialise at has proper trained security.”
Beginning in June Bermuda’s bars, clubs and hotels with live entertainment will have to find as much as $500 per night for security staff — an additional cost many say they cannot afford.
Bar owners including Mr. Phil Barnett — whose Island Restaurant Group operates the Pickled Onion and Hog Penny among other venues — recently told the “Bermuda Sun” they will have no choice but to drop their bands and DJs to save money. They fear this will “make Bermuda boring” and turn away tourists in search of nightlife entertainment.
His sentiments were echoed by Bermuda Bistro at The Beach general manager Mr. Duncan Adams and Spinning Wheel owner Mr. Steve Simons.
“I have been involved with doing bar and nightclub security for over 18-plus years internationally and in Bermuda,” said Mr. Noel-Simmons. “Presently, I have retired from direct contact security as a door supervisor, but am a consultant for risk assessment and specialise in bar, nightclub and social event security.”
Mr. Noel-Simmons, also an award-winning bodybuilder and personal trainer, said he was surprised local security firms had not been consulted when amendments to the Liquour License Act were being considered last year by a working group which included police, political figures and members of CADA.
.
“First, let me say that when I heard about the new Liquor License Act last year in May along with the amended Securities Act of 1974, I went to the Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse’s Mr. Anthony Santucci, to ask who had made these ‘security’ decisions and when this committee was formed? And, more importantly, why was there NO consultation with bar and nightclub security staff?
“These people are on the front line every night and would be an essential part of such a committee. Surely the committe should have been a cross-section of all parties involved. At present I only know of three security staff that took a Training Intervention Procedures course in November, 2010.”
Introduced to Bermuda in 2006, CADA says more than 730 managers, bartenders, servers and sellers of alcohol from more than 140 licensed establishments in Bermuda have successfully completed the one-day TIPS programme.
Mr. Noel-Simmons went on to say while Bermuda’s existing Security Act, 1974 stipulates security personnel need to have “Security Training”, there is currently no recognised standard of training on the island so he sought international certifications for his staff.
“Our family security company, D.P.A Security, took advice from an international security consultant and they recommended either the City & Guilds Door Supervision or the Edexcel Door Supervision qualification, both of which have an identical course criteria,” he said. “We now have 14 Bermudians qualified in First aid and CPR; Door Supervisor/Conflict Management certification from Edexcel Level 2; Physical Intervention British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body programme certification and their Door Performance certification from Linx International (security and risk management consultants in London) as of July,2010. We believe we are the only company on island with such training.”
Mr. Noel-Simmons said security personnel and doorman/bouncers are the first to engage in anti-social behaviour at the door or when it commences in the bar.
“To put it in perspective there where times that I worked at the Beach Bistro with management only allowing two security from 10-3:30am on a Friday/Saturday to secure a patio, toilets and bar and rear seating area,” he said. “Luckily, my reputation and the reputation of my colleague at the time was enough to keep a majority of the patrons under control. Another colleague was not so lucky when only one security staff was requested by management. Consequently he was attacked and hospitalised.”
Mr. Noel Simmons said he has also worked at Mr. Barnett’s Pickled Onion where, on a Friday night, a single doorman on duty at the downstairs entrance was sometimes deemed sufficient to control 150 people on the patio and bar with a majority female staff and female manager.
“Mr. Barnett would question why I would place nine-13 security at the Rumbar when, at certain parties, there where up to three points of entry that needed to be covered … to protect his staff and ourselves from close to 250-300 partying patrons carrying open bottles of champagne and/or vodka,” said Mr. Noel-Simmons. “Consider the risk for security and staff now.
“With the way Bermuda has changed and the attacks on working staff and security who are trying to keep managers and bar owners happy regulating patrons, we also have to protect ourselves. Remember, we don’t have a protective vest against bottles or knife attacks. We don’t have a baton to ward off an assault of 12-15 youths trying to get into a party. What we do have is our reputation and, hopefully, the respect of the patron.
“So charging a bar from $35-50 per guard is based on risk assessment. Alcohol has no colour code or creed and it makes everyone a superhero. And any given night from 10-3:30am could be our last! Then what would the bar owners say? How would you explain that to my wife and child,or better yet, how about they deal with the unruly patrons who feel that a night out is a ‘fight night’ against whoever gets in their way.”
Mr. Noel-Simmons said his D.P.A. team and other security firms working on the island all share his feelings on that additional security at Bermuda’s bars, nightclubs and restaurants will translate into additional customers for owners.
Mr. Barnett, who is on the board of directors of the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, told the “Bermuda Sun”: “We understand there are some troublesome premises but many bar owners work hard to create safe environments for people to be in. This is penalizing us all even when we are running safe and above-board establishments.
“We really hope the voice of reason will prevail; we don’t want to suffer for other people’s shortcomings.”
The amendments to the Liquor License Act were debated in the House of Assembly last May.
That’s why I stay home and drink
increased security will boost business? more like increased security will increase operational costs, which will increase drink prices or result in cover charges, which almost never leads to increased business
Stay home and get drunk. Then the only thing that you will CRASH will be yourself onto your bed!!!
lol
I’ve been saying this for years!!!
Of course he’ll say that increased security will boost business. As the owner of a Security firm, he is lobbying for his business!!! Duuuuuuh!
Where in my statement did I promote myself or DPA. Thats who I consult for. There are many bar security firms…maybe you should read the article again and see that I am speaking from my experiences…
The only business it will boost is the security firms… And 50% are no more than former thugs now collecting paychecks to be thugs in Security T-shirts.
Actually it will promote more safety for you as a patron to know that you have someone qualified on the door. Oh and by the way with the Securities Act of 1974 all men and women in security must go through a police background check by the commissioner…just incase you where out one night and needed help from one of us thugs…
Nightlife in Bermuda has been dying for Years. This is yet another nail in the coffin of what remains of a so called nightlife. No longer are there any bars or clubs where you can go and have a good time without having to look over your back, with or without security present. Besides if security did its job right in the first place the violence in establishments would have been stopped at the door. That’s why locations have the right to refuse admission to anyone. If you don’t let them in trouble makes can’t cause trouble in the club!
Actually there are plenty of bars to go and have a good time because your fun is made by YOU not by whats happening around you As far as the security doing its job at the door…like I said in my statement, ‘Alcohol has no colour or creed and it makes all of us superheros’… so that person may come in fine and upstanding but then start to drink and what was once reasonable is impossible to reason with…Also when you have bar managers trying to make quotas they hardly refuse anyone even when we do and are over-ruled!
Around 2004 when the smoking ban was being bandied about, I took the stance that the owners of the establishments, should be free from government interference, it should be up to the owner to decide, who they serve smoker or non-smoker, and up to the public who they loan their patronage. I was in the minority, but did warn of the slippery slope, by allowing the government to erode their rights on that occasion, they should not, now be surprised that governement has comes back for more.
Talk about tooting your own horn. I do know the landscape have changed in our once lovely island, however we don’t need the 2 security for every 1 patron,lol. No for real this gentleman in my opinion wants to sound inportant and try to boost his business. “Luckily my reputation and the reputation of my colleague at the time was enough to keep a majority of the patrons under control” he is making it sound as if people go out looking for trouble.I will say this “a majority” of people go out to have a good time and then go home “a minority” go out to cause trouble, and if “a majority” of say 50 decided to act up and you have 20 security guards there is nothing “a minority’ of 20 can do. The proposed ratio is not workable and will only drive establishments to increase prices and cover charge or start to charge a cover and then i’ll just stay home.
Actually Winnie, people do go looking for trouble and use the excuse of alcohol or race as the motive behind the attack! there are many incidents in a bar that when you ask what provoked that person to smash a bottle over that guys head or worse when a random guy gets beaten ridiculously by another group of guys because he simply didn’t say excuse me walking through a crowded bar! Thats why certain bar managers will work with certain groups because he knows that no matter what happens the bouncer will step in front. And yes there have been many times I have been lucky to get out of a situation…I can take you back to when there used to be reggae sessions at clayhouse and we have to hold back guys refusing to pay $5. Or the Champions the afterhours bar…so from my experience reutation and in our field is everything!
Also there is no increased price! Bar owners have been paying $35-$45 for security anyway! All I am saying is when making decisions about security include the security. And FYI its 1 security per 35 then a second per 50. so if your bar holds 150 people than thats 3. How does the price go up? The beach does 3-4 depending on the night…so I don’t understand your logic…
if the bouncers would just do their job then everything would be fine. I have been out many times and seen someone get thrown out of a bar only to see them right back there the next week. Mind you it depends who they are! Seems like certain trouble makers have a trouble pass to the city. If your known around the community as a big shot then you get preferential treatment. Meanwhile the same bouncers wont let in the decent law abiding patron because they don’t like their shoes. It’s been happening for years! If someone is known as a trouble maker then they should be banned from all bars, that’ll teach em. Let’s create a stop list that actually might be good for the community.
What are we not doing? I have banned people from coming into a bar to the point that if this person gets back in we the security are walking out! But guess what, management says well he came the next day paid for whatever damages and appologised so he/she is allowed back in…so how are we not doing our job? oh and as far as the dress code…in a bar the RULES are written by management, NOT the doorman. We rae there to enforce the rule whether we agree with it or not! And there is a stop list but its whether or not it gets enforced by that team or the establishment…
So they’re talking about clubs, bars and restaurants. What about football games where there is often a lot of trouble? I don’t even go to football games anymore. Sorry Devrae but your stance sounds more self serving. As far as I’m concerned, security should be there to control who comes in and calm a situation. If a fight breaks out then call the police, that’s what I pay taxes for.
Yes thats fair about the football games! I agree, but once you give me the cavlar vest and the other protection that I need to go into situations like that then not a problem. In the meantime I work in a security polo and cargo pants.
Also, I don’t have to promote myself. I have done my time and have seen alot in Bermuda and overseas.
Security is there to control the crowd, yes that is our function! But when a fight breaks out and there is a chance it could be a 10 -20 man rumble you as the security have to take charge and HOPE the police get there in time. Ask my officer Cleo who went to ask 4guys to stop smoking in a bathroom at Ferrai bar in Dec ’10. There response is that they threw 4 heineken bottles at him with a full one smashing in his face! Now the police where called… after 15 minutes the police arrived trying to get staements from a crowd that quickly became hostile because they sent 1 car! Cleo manage to fight and get himself out of his situation but he now has had to fecial reconstructive surgery…who pays for that? oh an by the way…NO arrest have been made at this time with names and staements given…so i ask u ‘Reality’…my team and I live it daily when we are working and we pay taxes as well…
“nine-13 security at the Rumbar when, at certain parties, there where up to three points of entry that needed to be covered … to protect his staff and ourselves from close to 250-300 partying patrons carrying open bottles of champagne and/or vodka,””
lol he makes a night out sound like a riot…
Well Scott, if you have ever been to a Janson Cross ‘Bad Girls’ party at Rumbar (Phil Barnetts place)you would know that they use the restaraunt patio as the VIP and the outside stairs as the exit. There is also a back iron gate which people try to hop over because they can and it is only 10feet with a step up to get over.
Also you would know if you had been to one of these parties that they do a open bottle service of champagne and vodka. The bottle is given directly too the young adult (18-25yr old)who then drinks it straight out of the bottle and then decides that if he is drunk he is going to either smash it on the floor or just cary it around like a blanky. So when the police roll in 20 strong walking through at 2:30am this provides good tension and aggravation which then brings about quick shots for the fight club with police or assaults on each other by 3:30ambeause the police don’t stay. The security has to stay to clean up whatever pops off…so yes sometimes it can get like that.
Noel-Simmons attempts to weave hyperbole and irrelevent anecdotes- typical for an aspiring but contrived politician and security business owner- to prove his point. Contemporary security executives know that using FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) to justify increased business/budgets is no longer acceptable and comes accross as desperate.
I’d also like to look at ALL threat models and risk assessments made by Governmennt and by the likes of Noel-Simmons (‘veteran security consultants’ – which is an erroneous label) whith regards to Night Club security. Its ultimately our money they play with, afterall.
So this is the position of the UBP on this matter? Someone please tell me Noel-Simmons went rogue here.
Well Well finally we have someone thats is totally got their head in the sand and lives in a dream box.
ok let me go slow for you so you can ask me more questions without hidding behind a call sign…but whatever…
If you know me I wasn’t talking or responding to Phil Barnett’s article in the Bermuda Sun, Jan 21st as a politician but as a Doorman/Bouncer who has 18+ years in the business. Where did anyone read about me promoting any political party? Yes i have my own company and yes we try to educate and certify doorman for DPA because thats what the New Liquor license requires! Also so that when we do send out teams to an event they know how to protect themselves, the patron and the establishment. Some get on the job training others already have the experience. So I don’t understand some of the comments. What I can tell you is that the level of violence has increased and will continue to rise.
Now to answer your question about what your “Contemporary Security Executives” know. They know that it is not in their best interest to do what we do because they are not equipped to handle those situations.(Oh and I sat with these persons you speak abou and ask what is their view on security in Bermuda.Very Interesting response… but i’ll save that for another day.)
I’m sorry you dont like the title that bernews has issued me but I think after 18 years in the business I can speak on it far better than you! Not that I’m challnging you to it but do your research and then contact me and I would be more than happy to come with a pan that works for everyone. But if you think your government is going to take out the time to ‘worry’ about the violence that goes on in Bermuda keep sitting by the window cause it is not going to happen. Why would they when they just get GET to put up another camera…Take your head out of the sand and when you are ready for REAL talk about REAL situations feel free. But until then your opion on this matter holds no weight…
I ‘d like to see just one of you loud mouths on a door or doing a night’s security somewhere,I bet the first person to tell you go *F&&! yourself* would have you running off in tears calling for ya Momma!
Hey mate, don’t worry! When their children are out and we are the ones that have pulled them out of trouble or recognised that their child is about to get into trouble and we pull him away…well now where friends! Heaven forbid if we got in any of these peoples way when they where trying to get into our bars…scream bloody murder…No they definetly could not walk in a doormans shoes…
I have to admit that any party I had attended and I saw Devrae (now I know your name) and his team on the door I know its going to be a safe night. They haven’t failed me yet. So well done!!!!
Thanks Bri,
My team and I appreciate that… I will let them know!
Its funny, NOW that I have answered and responded to Winnie, In the know,Scott,Reality,mixed up,for real, non believer and Come on man…what CAT got your tongue or are you all just CAT and can’t handle TRUTH…
I await your answers…
Increased security will almost certainly increase business. Many are reticent to go out to some of the joints in hamilton, simply because they are full of little island hoods with their fake gold medallions, white t-shirts and pants robbed off some washing line in Court Street. Once you clear out the scum, trade increases.