Ian Fox – the hard-working and totally dedicated chairman of National Doorwatch – has written to the Oxford English Dictionary’s publisher (the Oxford University Press) and requested the term ‘Bouncer’ as a description of door supervisors be removed.
“This term is anachronistic, inappropriate and downright offensive to the new, modern, highly regulated profession of door supervision,” said Fox in conversation with SMT Online.
“It’s used to demean and give a negative stereotype of the hard-working men and women who are regularly called upon to deal with extremely challenging situations, many of which are predominantly alcohol and drug-related.”
As far as Fox is concerned, the continued use of the term ‘Bouncer’ in the media not only fuels this stereotype but also serves to place not only door supervisors’ Health & Safety at risk, but also that of the general public.
National Doorwatch meeting in Leicester
The move follows a meeting at the De Montfort Halls in Leicester last Tuesday at which Bill Butler (the SIA’s chief executive) was in attendance – along with 50 individuals including door staff, stewards and local police – to answer the questions door supervisors wanted to ask.
Those door supervisors travelled from all over the county and also included Doorwatch members from Coventry, Derby, and Nottingham.
At the gathering the police commander for Leicester City Centre, Inspector Jason Ross, said it was really important that this kind of meeting took place, and hoped the formation of a local Doorwatch could provide the platform for improved communications, between all those working in the night-time economy.
It was then over to Bill Butler, who stated there had been far too many promises of “jam tomorrow” for door supervisors which may have been beyond the legislative control and remit of the Regulator.
Acknowledging some of the earlier problems, Butler explained that, as is the case for all new organisations, there had been a steep learning curve at the SIA and, if regulation were to ‘start again’, with the benefit of hindsight they would likely do some things differently.
Clear value in the door supervisor role
Butler made it clear that he values highly the role door supervisors play in the night-time economy, and that it was wrong door supervisors should have to face what in any other profession would be a totally unacceptable level of violence.
A level of violence, in fact, which has seen over 60% of door supervisors physically assaulted at one time or another. That’s according to research commissioned by the SIA itself.
Butler then took questions from the audience, those that had been submitted via e-mail and also sent in by the many door supervisors who were unable to attend on the night.
These questions focused on everything from the cost of a licence through to the introduction of physical intervention techniques and on to what the SIA does on a daily basis.
To his great credit, Butler “didn’t back down” (Ian Fox’s own words) and gave full answers to every question that was asked.
Indeed, he agreed that the term ‘Bouncer’ is offensive and an inappropriate description for members of what is now a highly regulated sector of the industry.
Creating a new future for the sector
The key message Butler imparted was that door supervision as a profession has now moved on. He wishes to see door staff help him, the Regulator and themselves to take things forward, create a new future for the industry and highlight the difficult role they perform.
Butler is a firm believer that door staff are highly valued and respected by all participants in the night-time economy, which is at least one reason why the SIA’s CEO continues to support the National Doorwatch project.
For its part, Security Management Today Online has always used the terms ‘door staff’ or ‘door supervisors’ as we also abhor (and always have done) the negative connotations associated with the word ‘Bouncers’.
On that basis, we would urge all of our partner organisations both in the security media world and beyond to abide by National Doorwatch’s wishes.
Representing the interests of door supervisors
National Doorwatch is an organisation representing the interests of professional door supervisors: the men and women employed to ensure guests’ safety during their time in a licensed entertainment venue.
It’s a not-for-profit organisation which seeks to provide free resources that will assist door supervisors fulfil their role to the best of their abilities. National Doorwatch’s overriding aim is to give door supervisors a voice at both a local and national level, and promote the positive side of their work in our communities.
National Doorwatch is not a union. Rather, first and last it’s described by Ian Fox as “a family”.
“National Doorwatch is proud of the fact that its family makes up one of the most diverse professions in the country,” asserted Fox. “In our profession, it’s all about the ability to do the job. This is a profession which requires a combination of understanding, tolerance and, above all, patience in some extremely demanding circumstances.”
National Doorwatch is also all about communication. “We recognise door supervisors can no longer work in isolation, and that it’s time for them to step forward positively into the future.”
In conclusion, Fox stated: “National Doorwatch wants to get the message out to everyone that door supervisors and their colleagues should be recognised and valued as a significant contributor to public safety in the night-time economy.”
A sentiment that’s fully endorsed by Security Management Today Online and info4security.
What are your thoughts on this matter?
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