Nightclub staff join fight against terrorists
THE boss of several popular Surfers Paradise nightclubs is welcoming police counter-terrorism training for frontline staff as logical given they’re mass gathering hot spots.
Bedroom and Sin City nightclubs general manager Tim Martin – also Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president – said glassies and bar staff were the on-the-ground “eyes and ears”.
The venues relied on them to identify intoxication and suspicious activity so it wasn’t an outlandish notion to include picking up on potential terror threats as well, he said.
“We would like to see a lot more training with staff in that regard to make sure they are aware of the importance of their role in maintaining safety,” Mr Martin said.
“We don’t expect them to engage these people but monitor or ID them before something happens.
“We talk to staff about it all the time particularly around major events because we are a potential target because of the mass gathering aspect.”
His comments come after revelations a series of invitation-only police forums are warning bars, stadiums, shopping centres and other venues to prepare for confrontations with knife-wielding or truckdriving terrorists.
The Crowded Places Forums are being held in major regional centres ahead of April’s Commonwealth Games. They are part of a national strategy of police helping the private sector improve safety in response to a potential attack.
Mr Martin said frontline hospitality staff were often underestimated in regard to their importance in such instances: “The more people aware and looking out for any activity the better.”