Showsec - again

[Bovril]

Security has to be commensurate to the threat, it only takes one.

 

[urban genie]

I don't see the issue, I personally am glad that security is high profile at game no matter how effective it actually is. I'm sure if nothing was done security wise and a terrible event was to occur this forum would be awash with people being hugely critical of the club. Sadly it is the age we live in and if you want to blame anyone blame extremism and not the club or the guys on the front line trying to earn a living.

It's not so much the security measures as I said wba last week we were patted down while entering the turnstiles quickly, efficiently and in a friendly manner, also citys own stewards are fine once you get through our turnstiles.
It is the manner and attitude of the showsec staff (some I would say) doing the security checks.
It could be argued that we would be a high risk target if a terrorist attack was going to happen, but the slapdash, way thay are doing it, being overbearing at one point and then when the queues are growing while they arse about they just stop bothering.
Also there is 3 of them at the gate either side, yet no control over the queues in general, it's direction snaking all over the place blocking people going round the ground and people getting to it at 5 mins before on Tuesday jibbing in on it. One poor lad with a little flag trying to help people on his own.
Tuesday was rediculous at P when I arrived half hour before, and yesterday, though the queues were smaller than everton, the actions (checking cards and asking to be given them, dragging people out of the que and acusing them of being drunk then putting them back in the line, berating fans for not having their ticket folded properly) go way beyond their remit and what they can actually do regarding the cards.

On the turnstile side at P if another 2 temperary ones were installed in the other vented gates, it would probably help in a lot of this.

 

[mancityvstoke]

A City steward had to bollock a showsec one on level two yesterday as they wouldn't sit down blocking views up there.

I get the impression City stewards don't like some of them either.

 

[manchester blue]

It's not so much the security measures as I said wba last week we were patted down while entering the turnstiles quickly, efficiently and in a friendly manner, also citys own stewards are fine once you get through our turnstiles.
It is the manner and attitude of the showsec staff (some I would say) doing the security checks.
It could be argued that we would be a high risk target if a terrorist attack was going to happen, but the slapdash, way thay are doing it, being overbearing at one point and then when the queues are growing while they arse about they just stop bothering.
Also there is 3 of them at the gate either side, yet no control over the queues in general, it's direction snaking all over the place blocking people going round the ground and people getting to it at 5 mins before on Tuesday jibbing in on it. One poor lad with a little flag trying to help people on his own.
Tuesday was rediculous at P when I arrived half hour before, and yesterday, though the queues were smaller than everton, the actions (checking cards and asking to be given them, dragging people out of the que and acusing them of being drunk then putting them back in the line, berating fans for not having their ticket folded properly) go way beyond their remit and what they can actually do regarding the cards.

On the turnstile side at P if another 2 temperary ones were installed in the other vented gates, it would probably help in a lot of this.

The post I quoted though did have an issue with being searched. I agree that poor attitude should be challenged and addressed.

 

[urban genie]

The post I quoted though did have an issue with being searched. I agree that poor attitude should be challenged and addressed.

Okay fair enough, though I can see the point at lot of the ground is season card holders and surely it would make sense to have a turnstile at P dedicated to paper and day tickets and season cards through the other 3, with the security maybe slightly more thorough at the day ticket one (scanners, full search etc).
Alright that may seem like people are singled out and I find it uncomfortable us doing that, but something needs to change as it is winding people up for different reasons.

 

[blueinsa]

Security has to be commensurate to the threat, it only takes one.

Thats the reality of the situation but it can be done correctly and with some humility.

Showsec are all about £profit, being seen to be tough and doing the job and those with the jackets on are virtually to a man/woman incapable of doing the job and lacking the requisite skills.

 

[Blue Maverick]

I get why there are security checks but surely profiling comes into fuck the PC brigade but there's not many 65-70 year old terrorists or kids, come to think of it a middle aged white woman isn't much of a threat. Some might not like it but it's just facts.

 

[squirtyflower]

Thats the reality of the situation but it can be done correctly and with some humility.

Showsec are all about £profit, being seen to be tough and doing the job and those with the jackets on are virtually to a man/woman incapable of doing the job and lacking the requisite skills.

I'm happy with being searched, I'm happy with the wanding, but not happy when they're taking food and drinks off families. That's not security, that's theft.

 

[nj1894]

I work for Showsec and at Etihad, Arena, Academy etc they only do what the client tells them to do

 

[blueinsa]

I'm happy with being searched, I'm happy with the wanding, but not happy when they're taking food and drinks off families. That's not security, that's theft.

No doubt done on the orders of the club who think wrongly that they should be spending ridiculous amounts of money on the shite on offer inside.

I agree, its theft.

 

[blueinsa]

I work for Showsec and at Etihad, Arena, Academy etc they only do what the client tells them to do

Fair play for sticking your head above the parapet so to speak.

Do you blindly follow instructions or do you use common sense when dealing with the general public and do you feel you have the communication skills to effectively deal with people meaning they follow instructions, fully understanding why they are being asked to do what they are and them having no issues with it because of the way you have communicated?

This isnt me having a go, its just a vital skill that i feel you and others in that position should have.

 

[bainy]

its all really strange this for me.............today...im in 318 ,go in N 1 ...I got the full search treatment,the bloke with the metal scan thing scanned me all over,said,"whats that in your coat pocket ? a mobile ? " I said yeah,it was.....but he didn't bother to check............before that ............my 9 year old who had a plastic bag with my pie ,his bottle of tango and crisps in it was waved in,in front of me without any check !!!

I dont think they can search under 16 year olds

 

[nj1894]

Fair play for sticking your head above the parapet so to speak.

Do you blindly follow instructions or do you use common sense when dealing with the general public and do you feel you have the communication skills to effectively deal with people meaning they follow instructions, fully understanding why they are being asked to do what they are and them having no issues with it because of the way you have communicated?

This isnt me having a go, its just a vital skill that i feel you and others in that position should have.

I use common sense but i dont do Etihad as im S/T holder but a lot of staff are students/young people who dont want to lose jo but also their is stewards/Response teams who dont understand a football crowd is different from a Concert/Outdoor event crowd

 

[blueinsa]

I use common sense but i dont do Etihad as im S/T holder but a lot of staff are students/young people who dont want to lose jo but also their is stewards/Response teams who dont understand a football crowd is different from a Concert/Outdoor event crowd

Thanks for the reply and appreciate your honesty.

As ive stated, all about profit, low paid staff ill equipped skills wise to effectively deal with large crowds of people.

That is not a go at those people either, its just the truth of the situation.

 

[mancityvstoke]

Some of them do throw their weight about though.....proper hard ****s...they think. Talking to supporters like they are shit will never win you mates.

City stewards don't do it so why do some showsec?

 

[cityboy5]

I get why there are security checks but surely profiling comes into fuck the PC brigade but there's not many 65-70 year old terrorists or kids, come to think of it a middle aged white woman isn't much of a threat. Some might not like it but it's just facts.

Neither are middle aged black women

 

[urban genie]

I use common sense but i dont do Etihad as im S/T holder but a lot of staff are students/young people who dont want to lose jo but also their is stewards/Response teams who dont understand a football crowd is different from a Concert/Outdoor event crowd

Thanks for the replies you gave more amswers than supporter services that fob you off when asked, tbf the start of the season there was a team of showsec staff that were the same every week and they were sound, but since the tunnel work and change in entry methods it's been different each game, and the new measures seem to have been not relayed in any coherant way to them as they are inconsiatant, the old guy at P1 yesterday thought he was able to bark at people and drag them out of the line at will.

 

[nj1894]

City stewards their every week as they work only City
Showsec yesterday had MCFC, WWE at Arena, St Helens Bonfire where i went after the game, Ritz, Belle Vue, Academy 1,2,3 so same staff not gonna just go to City, its my 2nd job but to some its first job so will go where more hours are

 

[nj1894]

Some of them do throw their weight about though.....proper hard ****s...they think. Talking to supporters like they are shit will never win you mates.

City stewards don't do it so why do some showsec?

AS i said some of them just dont know that customer service skills work different on Football fans from other venues

 

[Eccles Blue]

To be fair to the ones that ask to see the card, they could just be checking that people are queuing at the correct turnstile. Even yesterday at P there were two guys in front of me who were trying to get into the wrong one! We have had emails from the club plus text messages advising which turnstile we now need to use on CBL1 for almost every game since this started so why are they still trying to get in the wrong one? This is not to excuse the questioning of having had a drink etc. just the checking the cards. :-)