An Edinburgh nightclub hosted a security event that simulated a variety of scenarios including a terrorist attack.
Shanghai Club on George Street saw the resilience exercise organised by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) - the regulator for the UK private security sector - take place within the venue.
There were four simulations that took place in real-time using volunteer actors who ran through the emergency scenarios.
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The first incident was an attack inside the venue with a bladed weapon, the second an acid attack on a patron, the third a suspicious package being discovered and the fourth a marauding terrorist attack unfolding outside of the club.
Door security teams from the capital and surrounding area were present to observe and learn techniques to deal with the various attacks, according to the Professional Security Magazine online.
Ronnie Megaughin, the SIA’s head of compliance and inspections, told the magazine: “These realistic scenarios are an excellent method for training security operatives and gives them an ideal opportunity to put their training to use.
“Security operatives may be the first people on the scene in an incident. Yesterday’s staged terror incidents enabled security operatives to take part and deal with the scenario, and then receive an instant debrief from counter-terror experts.
“We know from experience that operatives, and their managers, really appreciate what they learn from these events and find them worth their while. Any of these security staff could find themselves as the first responder at a serious incident, and this exercise could literally be the difference between life and death.”
While John Sandlin, SIA senior manager compliance and inspections, added: “The main aim of exercises like this is to increase public safety in the night-time economy by working with venues and security staff.
“It’s also to showcase best practice by putting the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) security e-learning package, which we’ve been recommending to all SIA-licensed operatives, into practice.
“We’re really pleased with the commitment that all the security staff put into the exercise at the Shanghai Club.”
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