SIA Door Search Procedures & Drug Awareness 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended procedure when a door supervisor suspects a customer's drink has been spiked?
- Separate the customer, call emergency services and preserve the drink as evidence (Correct answer)
- Advise the customer to drink water and rest
- Remove the drink and allow the customer to leave
- Ignore the matter as it is a police responsibility
Correct answer: Separate the customer, call emergency services and preserve the drink as evidence
Suspected drink spiking is a serious crime; the drink should be preserved for forensic analysis, the customer separated and cared for, and emergency services called immediately.
Question 2: What are the signs of ketamine intoxication?
- Dissociation, confusion, inability to feel pain and appearing unconscious while awake (Correct answer)
- Extreme confidence and rapid speech
- Pinpoint pupils and sedation
- Excessive energy and sweating
Correct answer: Dissociation, confusion, inability to feel pain and appearing unconscious while awake
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic causing confusion, detachment from reality, inability to feel pain and a 'k-hole' state where the person appears semi-conscious.
Question 3: Why is it important to conduct searches consistently and without discrimination?
- To comply with the Equality Act 2010 and avoid accusations of bias (Correct answer)
- To maximise the number of searches carried out
- To reduce the time spent searching
- To satisfy insurance requirements
Correct answer: To comply with the Equality Act 2010 and avoid accusations of bias
Inconsistent searches that target people based on protected characteristics breach the Equality Act 2010 and can expose the venue and individual to legal action.
Question 4: A customer is found in possession of a small amount of cannabis. What is the correct door supervisor response?
- Refuse entry or remove from premises, document the incident and notify police if appropriate (Correct answer)
- Allow entry as cannabis is a minor offence
- Confiscate the cannabis and warn the customer
- Conduct a full search and arrest the customer
Correct answer: Refuse entry or remove from premises, document the incident and notify police if appropriate
While door supervisors cannot arrest for simple possession without meeting the citizen's arrest threshold, they can refuse entry and should document and report the matter to police.
Question 5: What is the 'Frank' approach to drug awareness referenced in UK security training?
- A government drug information resource providing factual advice without moralising (Correct answer)
- A slang term for cannabis
- A search technique for detecting drugs
- A police liaison procedure
Correct answer: A government drug information resource providing factual advice without moralising
FRANK is the UK government's drug information service; security training draws on FRANK resources to ensure staff have accurate, non-judgmental knowledge of drug effects and risks.
Question 6: Which drug class is associated with aggression and paranoia, increasing conflict risk at venues?
- Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines (Correct answer)
- Opiates
- Benzodiazepines
- Hallucinogens such as LSD
Correct answer: Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines
High-dose stimulant use can cause paranoia, increased aggression and unpredictable behaviour, making stimulant-intoxicated customers higher-risk in conflict situations.
SIA Door Search Procedures & Drug Awareness 3
What is the recommended procedure when a door supervisor suspects a customer's drink has been spiked?