Club bouncers face mandatory vetting to weed out criminals

The government has ordered a mandatory nationwide training, vetting and licensing of bouncers and VIP protection personnel to ensure criminal elements do not infiltrate the security apparatus.

The training is also geared towards equipping the bouncers with relevant skills and capacity to tackle emerging security challenges.

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has said the exercise also targets events security and other security personnel in entertainment, recreational and sporting establishments.

PSRA Director General Fazul Mahamad yesterday said the evolving security landscape in the country requires proper criminal record check and training of bouncers and other private security officers.

Hotels and entertainment joints can be targeted by criminals and even terrorists and it is imperative that the guards and bouncers are not only vetted but also well trained to play the critical role in ensuring public safety and security.

Fazul said the initiative seeks to address the various skills and knowledge gaps within this cadre of workers in the private security industry.

Defusing conflict

“They are hereby required to within the next three weeks to undergo training in security matters in an institution accredited by the PSRA,” Fazul said.

The skills include strategies for preventing and defusing conflict situations, proficiency in venue searches, pat down searches and bag searches; professionalism, customer care and communication skills; dealing with illegal drugs; and emergency planning

“They also need social skills that can enable them talk to people, spot potential problems, de-escalate tensions, and avoid using force unnecessarily,” he said.

Under Section 2 of the Private Security Regulation Act, bouncers, event security personnel, VIP protection personnel, Crowd Control Personnel or any other person hired or otherwise engaged to ensure order and safety on premises used for entertainment, recreational or sporting purposes are classified as private security service providers.

The law prohibits anyone from engaging in the provision of private security services unless that person has been security vetted, registered and licensed.

In order to enhance accountability, all bouncers have also been directed to operate under the umbrella of corporate entities.

“By aligning bouncer operations with corporate structures, there is a greater emphasis on standardised protocols, background checks and training,” PSRA said.

Some bouncers have been accused of beating to death or seriously injuring people during confrontations in circumstances that could otherwise have been avoided.

Last week in Nairobi, a group of bouncers at the Kettle Bar and Restaurant in Lavington, Nairobi county engaged National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) officials, journalists and police officers in a violent scuffle with police and journalists.

Equipment belonging to journalists was also damaged during the operation targeting shisha smoking at the joint.

Fazul yesterday said the 21 bouncers who were arrested in connection to the attack will face additional charges of operating as a bouncer without a licence under Section 69 of the Private Security Regulation Act.

Police say there have been increased incidents where security personnel and bouncers were involved in violent scuffles that left many injured and others robbed.

Some of the cases are pending in court and under investigation and include robbery with violence.
In a bid to professionalise the industry, the PSRA has come up with a raft of measures including setting the basic minimum monthly wages of Sh30,000 for all private security guards operating in Kenya.

The PSRA has also commenced nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to guards

PSRA says it is now a mandatory requirement for all guards to undergo training in security matters in an institution accredited by the Authority as a prerequisite requirement for registration and licensing.
The bouncers will also be issued with GFN in order to operate.