Bhubaneswar: In a significant directive, the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police on Monday issued a set of instructions directing bar owners in the twin cities to refrain from appointing bouncers (personnel security personnel) in their establishments without the permission of the police.
The directive of the Commissionerate Police comes in the wake of a series of criminal activities, especially land grabbing and eviction of people from their homes unlawfully, by the bounces employed by different bars in the twin cities.
The notice issued by the Commissionerate Police read, “In recent months, some criminal cases have been registered against many such private security personnel who are called bouncers. It is apprehended that there is all likelihood of imminent danger from these bouncers to the life and safety of the customers, resulting in a breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquility.”
“It is necessary that some checks should be put to deter such unwarranted threats to the life and safety of the customers as well as breach of peace and disturbance of public tranquility. There is sufficient ground for proceeding under the law for immediate prevention of such activity,” the notice added.
The salient features of the notice issued by the Commissionerate Police include:
- No bar owner shall appoint any person as private security whether known as a bouncer or otherwise without prior verification of the character and antecedents of the person concerned by the respective territorial Deputy Commissioner of Police.
- Bar owners can only appoint a person as his/her private security from private security agencies registered under the PSARA Act.
- Bar owners must inform the local police station about persons engaged for security purposes in writing.
- The security personnel employed in such establishments are subject to the ordinary legal rules regarding the use of force.
- These security personnel can only perform tasks permitted by law.
