Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

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PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

ENLIGHTENING THEM: City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali addressing hoteliers in the city on Thursday. –

Coimbatore: Hospitality sector should maintain extra vigil and and train the staff to identify anti-social elements so as to prevent terror attacks, said Commissioner of Police K.C. Mahali here on Thursday.

Addressing 240 representatives of over 150 hotels/lodges and stay houses in the city, he said this was essential in the wake of recent terror attacks in Mumbai. Hoteliers’ participation was utmost important in ensuring peace and safety, he said.

Hoteliers should try to implement the suggestions put forward by the police in a phased manner, he said.

Mr. Mahali said every hotel/lodge should have a compound wall having barbed wire fencing and adequate lighting. Thorny bushes should be removed.

No hotel should have too many entry or exit points but there should be emergency exits. Depending on the size of premises and volume of businees, hotels should employ private security personnel.

While recruiting employees, their antecedents should be checked. Managements should insist on identify proof. For such verifications, hoteliers could approach the police for help, Mr. Mahali said.

Fire extinguishers should be kept ready and pipeline outlets for fire tenders should be provided.

Hotels could use Hand Held Metal Detectors to frisk visitors and if necessary Door Frame Metal Detectors. Surveillance cameras and X-Ray machines to scan luggage too be used.

If the guest was a foreigner, hotels should check their passport and validity of visa.

A daily report should be sent to the jurisdiction police officer.

When rooms were being booked by local residents for guests, hoteliers should ensure the bonafide of the local contact person. If persons were staying for a long time, hoteliers should check their activities.Deputy Commissioners of Police, S. Rajendran (Law and Order), K. Shanmugavel (Crime and Traffic) told hoteliers that they should train room service boys on these measures since they were the first contacts with the guests. If the guest was locking up the room for unusually longer period, the police should be informed.

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