Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
Integrate survivor-led training on sexual harassment into Security Industry Authority accreditation for venue staff.
Recommendation
Security Industry Authority accreditation for security staff to work at live music venues should include training on dealing with discrimination, sexual harassment and abuse. That training should be survivor-led and provided by accredited organisations dedicated to improving safety for women. (Recommendation, Paragraph 98) 62
Government Response Summary
The government states that the Security Industry Authority's mandatory training for Door Supervisors already includes content on keeping vulnerable people safe, identifying predatory behaviours, and dealing with allegations of sexual assault, thereby addressing the recommendation for such training.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The private security industry plays a key role in public protection, and this includes the protection of women and girls in live music venues and the wider night-time economy. The Security Industry Authority sets training standards for Door Supervisors. The mandatory learning includes a dedicated section about keeping vulnerable people safe, and factors which cause someone to become vulnerable. There is specific content in the mandatory Security Industry Authority training which is relevant to protecting vulnerable women (and others) in the night-time economy, including: seeking help from other professionals, such as police and paramedics; awareness of local services like street marshals and ‘safe havens’; safety initiatives such as ‘Ask Angela’; and calling a trusted friend or taxi service to facilitate a safe journey home. In order to pass the end-of-training assessment, candidates have to be able to demonstrate that they can identify behaviours exhibited by sexual predators. This includes the inappropriate use of technology (for example, upskirting); buying drinks or close monitoring of vulnerable people; and suspicious behaviour within and around venues. The mandatory learning also includes how to deal with allegations of sexual assault, such as safeguarding victims, documenting the incident, and notifying the police.