That’s a step up from the old approach, which broadly treated vulnerability as someone else’s problem once a person was off the premises or refused entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new expectations sit alongside existing SIA licensing conditions, not instead of them. You still do the entry checks. You still manage ejections lawfully. You still call the police when needed. The difference is what happens in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 4 Things You’re Now Expected To Do<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n- Spot the signs.<\/strong> Recognise indicators of exploitation, trafficking, spiking, coercive control, or someone being separated from their group against their will.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Intervene appropriately.<\/strong> Offer a safe space, separate the person from the suspected risk, and avoid handing them back into a harmful situation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Use the right referral pathway.<\/strong> Know who to call \u2014 police, Ask for Angela schemes, local safeguarding leads, or venue duty managers \u2014 and when.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Document it.<\/strong> Write up what you saw, what you did, who you contacted, and when. The incident log is no longer optional padding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Spotting Vulnerability: What to Actually Look For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trainers across the sector have been clear that vulnerability isn’t always obvious. It isn’t just someone slumped on a wall at 2 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common signs flagged in safeguarding briefings include a person who seems disoriented or doesn’t know where they are, someone whose drink or behaviour suggests possible spiking, a young person being closely shadowed by an older adult who answers questions for them, or someone trying to leave with a person they appear afraid of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The point is not to play detective. The point is to notice, ask, and escalate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The “Are You OK?” Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One simple approach trainers recommend: separate the person from whoever they’re with, even briefly, and ask a direct question. If the answer doesn’t add up \u2014 or they can’t give one \u2014 that’s your cue to involve a manager or police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referral Pathways You Should Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Knowing the number to call matters as much as spotting the problem. Door supervisors are expected to be familiar with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- 999 and 101<\/strong> \u2014 for immediate threats and non-emergency reports, respectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ask for Angela<\/strong> \u2014 the venue-based code phrase scheme that triggers staff intervention for someone feeling unsafe on a date or with a stranger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Local Pubwatch and Best Bar None schemes<\/strong> \u2014 for sharing intelligence about predatory individuals across venues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The venue’s designated safeguarding lead<\/strong> \u2014 usually a duty manager or licensee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Local authority safeguarding teams<\/strong> \u2014 particularly relevant where under-18s are involved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If your venue hasn’t briefed you on these, ask. If it still doesn’t brief you, that’s a problem the SIA increasingly cares about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/new-staging.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/inbody_1_1-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDocumentation: Why the Incident Log Now Matters More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Documentation has moved from “nice to have” to “the thing that protects you when something goes wrong”. A clear, contemporaneous incident log demonstrates that you spotted the issue, acted on it, and followed the right pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to safeguarding guidance circulating in the sector, your log entry should cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Time, location, and a brief description of what you observed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who was involved (descriptions, not assumptions).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What you did and who you contacted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The outcome \u2014 was the person safe when they left, and with whom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If a vulnerable person comes to harm after leaving your venue, that log is the difference between a defensible response and a regulatory headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How This Fits with Your SIA Licence Conditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
None of this replaces the existing SIA licensing framework. Your door supervisor training<\/a> already covers conflict management, drug and alcohol awareness, and the basics of safeguarding. The new expectations build on that foundation rather than rewriting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat’s changed is the standard that the SIA, venue licensees, and local authorities are now likely to apply when something goes wrong. “I just refused them entry” is no longer a complete answer if the person was clearly at risk and walked off into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For licence holders thinking about renewal, expect refresher training to put more weight on safeguarding scenarios. For anyone going through an SIA licence application<\/a> now, the safeguarding component is no longer something to skim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spotting Vulnerability: What to Actually Look For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trainers across the sector have been clear that vulnerability isn’t always obvious. It isn’t just someone slumped on a wall at 2 am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common signs flagged in safeguarding briefings include a person who seems disoriented or doesn’t know where they are, someone whose drink or behaviour suggests possible spiking, a young person being closely shadowed by an older adult who answers questions for them, or someone trying to leave with a person they appear afraid of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The point is not to play detective. The point is to notice, ask, and escalate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The “Are You OK?” Test<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One simple approach trainers recommend: separate the person from whoever they’re with, even briefly, and ask a direct question. If the answer doesn’t add up \u2014 or they can’t give one \u2014 that’s your cue to involve a manager or police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referral Pathways You Should Know<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Knowing the number to call matters as much as spotting the problem. Door supervisors are expected to be familiar with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 999 and 101<\/strong> \u2014 for immediate threats and non-emergency reports, respectively.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ask for Angela<\/strong> \u2014 the venue-based code phrase scheme that triggers staff intervention for someone feeling unsafe on a date or with a stranger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Local Pubwatch and Best Bar None schemes<\/strong> \u2014 for sharing intelligence about predatory individuals across venues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The venue’s designated safeguarding lead<\/strong> \u2014 usually a duty manager or licensee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Local authority safeguarding teams<\/strong> \u2014 particularly relevant where under-18s are involved.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If your venue hasn’t briefed you on these, ask. If it still doesn’t brief you, that’s a problem the SIA increasingly cares about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDocumentation: Why the Incident Log Now Matters More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Documentation has moved from “nice to have” to “the thing that protects you when something goes wrong”. A clear, contemporaneous incident log demonstrates that you spotted the issue, acted on it, and followed the right pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to safeguarding guidance circulating in the sector, your log entry should cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Time, location, and a brief description of what you observed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Who was involved (descriptions, not assumptions).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What you did and who you contacted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The outcome \u2014 was the person safe when they left, and with whom.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If a vulnerable person comes to harm after leaving your venue, that log is the difference between a defensible response and a regulatory headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How This Fits with Your SIA Licence Conditions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
None of this replaces the existing SIA licensing framework. Your door supervisor training<\/a> already covers conflict management, drug and alcohol awareness, and the basics of safeguarding. The new expectations build on that foundation rather than rewriting it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What’s changed is the standard that the SIA, venue licensees, and local authorities are now likely to apply when something goes wrong. “I just refused them entry” is no longer a complete answer if the person was clearly at risk and walked off into trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For licence holders thinking about renewal, expect refresher training to put more weight on safeguarding scenarios. For anyone going through an SIA licence application<\/a> now, the safeguarding component is no longer something to skim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Ask for Angela<\/strong> \u2014 the venue-based code phrase scheme that triggers staff intervention for someone feeling unsafe on a date or with a stranger.<\/li>\n\n\n\n