Did anyone see what happened in the Union last night?

[ninman]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 12:35, 10th Apr 2005:
Why don't we just accept that there are a number of student's who, for one reason or another feel a certain amount of disdain for a number of the bouncers.

Certainly, i think that they would not feel as such without good reason. It's hardly rational to think that they would feel this way for no reason.

I for one have experienced at first hand the sheer rudeness and intimidation of the small fat blonde haired one:

I was sat quite unprovocatively when he and about three others came up behind me and sttod very close demanding that we drink our drinks right then and there and leave. The time was 1.05 and hardly anyone had started to move. He remained there for the next ten minutes.

I will not complain in person as the way he made me feel so bad, I feel as though he may victimise me further.

I am genuinely scared of him and don't wish to rile him, but I really should say something as he is not the kind of person, I feel, that should be in the union - at any time.


Why don't you complain to the union directly. I personally have not had any problems with any of the bouncers. I don't know why that is. I don't even know who the fat blonde one that everyone keeps talking about is. But if it was me, I would have told him to fuck off and leave me alone and that I'd finish my drink when I was good and ready.

If he said anything else, I would have asked to speak to his supervisor and if he laid a finger on me I'd have him charged with assault. I think that's the best way to deal with a situation like that. But like I said I have had no problems with the bouncers at all in my four years at St.Andrews.

[Sid]

[s]Unregisted User wrote on 16:33, 9th Apr 2005:

Plus, off duty ones shouldn't be allowed to drink in the union.


I have to agree with that, however, a few of the union bouncers are acutally students, so that would be unfair.

I have never had a problem with the union bouncers and compared to some other students unions we are very very lucky. Previous to being at St Andrews I was at another univeristy and their bouncers were as friendly as a bunch of f**ked up Rottweilers. Searches every weekend, prowling round all the time and if anyone was being the slightest bit loutish they would be reprimanded, people were banned on way too much of regualr basis. Really, it was a bit much.

On a more personal note, I have met some of the bouncers who work in the union and actually they're a bunch of all right people, apart from one, I think he gets called Dave, he's a sandwich short of a picnic, you can tell by his sinister eyes

[niall]

[s]Mr_Big_Dave wrote on 12:20, 10th Apr 2005:

b) usually it is illegal to hold someone until the police arrive




how the hell is it illegal? if you let go of them, they run away and then the police coming is pointless

[yank]

I seem to be in the minority here in having had good experiences with the bouncers at the Union. When my friend accidentally hit my other friend in the head with a beer can, lol, causing him to bleed, some bouncer drove him to the hospital, which I thought was rather nice. Also, after one of my friends became too drunk for his own good, a friend of mine who wasn't a student helped me take this drunk guy home and security let my nonstudent friend back in even though it was after the cutoff for nonstudents to come in, like 11, i think.

[hr]"I am responsible to only God and history." - Francisco Franco

[Grizzly]

If any of you do have problems, as already suggested on this thread , just come and ask the bouncers. They are all very approachable.

As for what happened on friday night, any of you who were there would have actually seen the punches and kicks being throw and directed at the bouncers. Yes, restraint is always the first option, however in this situation it was impossible. The people wanting to leave at the backdoor of the union were unable to leave the premises and therefore it was correctly dealt with. Finally, the police dealt with it and warned the guy causing the problem after hearing statements from all those involved and therefore the police believed that the bouncers did what they could and were firm,ly in the right otherwise the bouncers would have been the ones warned.

Please, instead of being anonymous and throwing accusations around when you werent even there is pointless. Others seem to have a vendatta against S3, why? If you have a question or genuniely want to know the full story or have any queries approach the bouncers.

[Blaggy]

These threads are becoming increasingly popular as a 'I think this person is an idiot' I don’t like this 'bouncer.'

In this town it seems as if any slight altercation is blown far out of proportion. No one accept the parties directly involved are at liberty to comment, as they do not have access to the full facts and are not graced with dealing with it first hand.

The use of force in any premises is a, and I stress, A LAST RESORT. The only time a doorman, or anyone actually, is permitted to use 'reasonable' force is when he or she is in a situation where there are NO means of escape or, in the case of doorstaff only, one, or group of patron(s) is engaged in a hostile action towards another. If you have the ability to escape via any means you MUST do so or risk breaking the law.

If a person is asked to leave the premises by a member of the doorstaff or any of the staff for that matter he or she must do so. If the party refuses to do then it is another matter, however 99% of the time if dealt with correctly then he or she will leave with absolutely no problem at all.

If and its a big IF the party will not go of their own accord then a minimal amount of cohesion can be employed to make sure the party is escorted off the property to ensure the safety of other patrons and staff. Again this can be done quickly and effectively WITHOUT causing any harm to either doorstaff or 'offender' 100% of the time UNLESS the party acts in an aggressive manner towards the doorstaff. If this is the case then necessary action is taken through restraint until the party is off the premises and not able to cause any harm to other patrons or members of staff.

Anyone in any sort of state should at that stage call it a night and make there way back home to sleep off the alcohol which again, 99% of the time, is the root cause of the problem in the first place. In the rare 1% of occasions the party may attempt (repeatedly) to regain entry to the premises he or she has been ejected from. At this stage the doorstaff are under NO obligation to deal with person unless he or she is causing damage to property or other patrons waiting to, or just about the enter or exit the premises. However in the case of the SU this also means the car park (still union property and hence part of the premises)

The doorstaff have the right to refuse re-entry and stop any party that has been ejected from attempting to do so. At this stage is at the discretion of the security supervisor to request the duty manager to call the police and request their presence. The law on holding a person until the police arrive is a seriously grey one, if it is reasonable and will not cause anymore harm to the offender or doorstaff it is allowed to restrain the person from causing anymore harm once a crime such as assault has been committed.

If he or she finds himself or herself in a situation where they are able to flee the area they can choose to do so and the doorstaff CANNOT pursue, only leave the police and CCTV to track down the offender.

Assault on a member of doorstaff in St Andrews, unlike many other cities or towns is uncommon hence when it does happen people like to give their input on places like this message board. I am not saying don’t do so, however if you are not in a position to comment for reasons mentioned above then please do not do so.

If you feel a member of doorstaff has wrongly treated you then take their I.D number and make a complaint the FOLLOWING day to the manager of the premises that way grievances are dealt with in the correct way and not by means of flaming by (usually) unregistered users on messages boards such as this.

If you feel you wish to understand (rather than speculate) the role of a doorman then enrol in an SIA approved training course that will qualify you to work on doors and hence be able to make an informed judgement on people that do!

I think that’s enough, hopefully that will be the end yet another of these threads.

[Guest]

[s]Mr_Big_Dave wrote on 12:20, 10th Apr 2005:

b) usually it is illegal to hold someone until the police arrive




how the hell is it illegal? if you let go of them, they run away and then the police coming is pointless