LICENSEES at pubs and clubs in the town centre have been given counter terrorism training to make sure they are prepared for an attack.
Debbie Bailey, a licensing officer for the council, told councillors at Tuesday’s statutory licensing regulatory board that in light of recent terror attacks targeting revellers in bars and pubs, licensing officers sourced counter terrorism training for all licensed premises in the town centre.
Debbie said 34 town centre licensees all successfully completed the training at Barnsley Town Hall. It was delivered by counter terrorism security advisers who used multimedia simulation and posed questions and dilemmas to licensees to raise their awareness of the threat of terrorism and provided practical advice on preventing, handling and recovering from an attack.
Debbie said: “I contacted all town centre licensees and managed to get 34 to come. What we did get as well was door staff. There is one company in particular who do the majority of the doors in town and the owner of that company came along.”
Chairman of the licensing board, Coun Charlie Wraith, said safety of the public is paramount, adding: “This can do nothing but good for the town so people can feel safe knowing they have had that training.”
Debbie added: “You never know and, god forbid something did happen, that’s why we put the training in place.
“It made everyone think not just how you prevent but what you do immediately after. It got people considering room layouts, whether they have any gas cylinders for pumps - it was really thought provoking and got everyone talking.
“Good things came out of it such as which premises have got a cellar and going down into a basement to be better protected. Some don’t have cellars and can direct people to safe places.”
