We don’t just stand there …
Security staff. Some people think all we do is stand there, checking names.
Yet that’s just one task of a hundred we perform.
Combined, our end-to-end security service makes your event memorable for the right reasons – before, during and (increasingly) afterwards.
Here are some of the things we do.
Before the storm
My phone rings.
It’s a desperate parent, crying for help.
The ‘family gathering’ has exploded.
Having invited a horde of unknown infants, the parent’s own child has stopped communicating with them. The parent has no idea how to handle the imminent onslaught.
I visit the home to determine the event’s details. I then ‘referee’ a solution of best fit between wild child and haggard adult.
My phone rings.
This host is wise enough to seek advice before their baby takes over.
I visit the venue (this time a hired hall) and gather all the facts.
We then calmly and carefully discuss topics like:
- Guest numbers (control them).
- Entry management (make sure invitees get in & others don’t).
- Alcohol management (ensure only those who should drink, can).
- Compliance regulations (stay on the right side of all laws).
- Neighbours (don’t make your whole street hate you).
- Toilets (do it by the numbers).
- Gatecrashers (identify & fix weak spots).
- Responsible adult helper roles (be the grown-ups in the room).
- Police notification (keep communicating until your party ends, as things can change fast with the high-risk 15-17 age group).
But wait! There’s more …
Action stations
Once I assign my experienced staff to your event, they do their due diligence.
They cross-check kids who arrive against their hard-copy IDs and the (finite!) guest list.
If there’s alcohol, my staff track who’s compliant, serve wrist-banded drinkers, cloak bags and refuse pass outs.
They also work with responsible adult helpers to monitor the event, resolve issues and ensure all kids leave safely.
That must be everything we do, right?
Unfortunately not.
We’ve had a rise in allegations of drink spiking and sexual assault.
Bitter aftertaste
Kids are resourceful.
If their parents won’t let them drink, they find other ways. Like preloading, smuggling and secret stashes.
With no controls, they get drunk. Once drunk, they make mistakes. This can include sex and violence. Ultimately, they get caught.
Kids don’t like getting into trouble.
When they stuff up, they don’t fess up.
So they blame the host. (That’d be you.)
Drunk kids say their drink was spiked. Kids with their pants down say they were sexually assaulted. Worse, their parents believe their false claims. Suddenly, civil charge threats fly.
Are you as smart as a fourth former?
It’s 2 am.
I’m sitting in the kitchen of a party gone wrong.
Around the table, the host parents, the parent of an alleged victim and the parent of an accused attacker.
I calm the waters and we all discuss what was alleged to have happened. Depending on what we discover, I then recommend a police investigation, legal action or a nice cup of tea and a lie down.
A fake grievance can cause as much harm as a real one. Some parties inflict major life damage to kids (rightly or wrongly) charged for sexual assault and to hapless hosts convicted of supplying alcohol to minors.
So, no: we don’t just stand there.
Using our professional service before, during and after your event can be the difference between a night to remember and a nightmare you’ll never forget.
Naomi Oakley, Founder, Safe Partying Australia.
