Yes, but there are very clear rules about when and how this can occur. Under section 165 of the Liquor Act 1992, an “authorised person” may require a person to leave licensed premises in specified circumstances, including where the person is unduly intoxicated, disorderly, creating a disturbance or otherwise falls within the circumstances listed in the Act. Section 165(5) defines an authorised person as the licensee or permittee, or an employee or agent of the licensee or permittee – which can include a crowd controller engaged by the venue. Once a lawful requirement to leave has been made, the person must immediately leave. Importantly, physical force is not the first step. Section 165(3) provides that if the person fails to leave after being lawfully required to do so, the authorised person may then use necessary and reasonable force to remove them.

These legal principles are reinforced throughout BARS practical training. Students undertake scenarios requiring them to communicate with patrons, make lawful directions, provide an opportunity for voluntary compliance and determine when physical intervention may become necessary. The important lesson is that being a licensed crowd controller does not provide an unrestricted authority to use force. There must be a lawful basis for your actions, and any force used must be necessary and reasonable in the circumstances. Security providers need to understand these principles because an unlawful use of force can have serious criminal, civil, employment and licensing consequences.

At BARS, we don't simply teach students how to remove someone – we teach them when they lawfully can, when they shouldn't, and how communication can often avoid physical intervention altogether.