New guidance on physical interventions

BIIAB (the leading awarding body for the UK licensed retail sector) and Skills for Security (the skills and standards setting body for the security business sector) have launched a good practice guide to address the issue of physical interventions. The aim is to reduce the incidence and impact of injury from physical violence to employees and customers, through promoting good practice and better training.

Noel Walsh, partner at law firm Weightmans, was part of the group which developed the guidance. He says: "Violence is of growing concern to owners or operators of licensed premises, but so far there has been a lack of guidance on physical intervention. Both employers and employees will increasingly face compensation claims if they fail to reduce the risk of injury. Where the risks are such that physical intervention is foreseeable then employers are obliged to teach staff safe methods.”