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BC-NY--NYPD-Nightlife Best Practices, 1st Ld-Writethru,329

NYPD, nightlife association update safety manual

Eds: Adds details on handboook, comment from police commissioner and legal counsel for nightlife association, background.

By COLLEEN LONG

Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) -- The New York Police Department and the city's nightlife association updated a safety handbook Monday to include a section on counterterrorism, after several bars and clubs around the globe were targeted by terrorists.

The 2011 edition includes recommendations for collecting surveillance footage, evacuation plans and training staff on how to detect a suicide bomber. Security staff should be looking for certain "suspicious" items, like inappropriate clothing for the season, protrusions from clothing, visible wires or tape.

Individuals who "are obviously disguised ... with obvious signs of extreme stress or nervousness such as bulging veins in the neck, profuse sweating, shaking hands ... " may also be suspicious, police said.

Police updated the best practices handbook to include the measures since nightclubs have been targeted in London and Bali. The most recent example cited in the handbook was in 2009, when two car bombs were discovered and dismantled before exploding near the Tiger Tiger nightclub in London.

"We have included a substantial discussion of counterterrorism best practices for the nightlife industry, not to create alarm but to help owners and operators craft effective strategies for terrorism prevention and preparedness," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in a statement.

The handbook also discusses how to prevent sexual assaults and includes tips for recognizing signs of intoxication. A series of training sessions will be held on the new manual for bars and clubs around the city.

New York Nightlife Association partnered with the NYPD after the deaths of Imette St. Guillen and Jennifer Moore, who were killed in separate incidents after a night out in city clubs.

Robert Bookman, the legal counsel for the association, said the recommendations don't require additional staff -- just using the staff in smarter ways.

The association is made up of about 150 bars and clubs, but nearly all of the 1,200 or so nightlife establishments around the city will see the handbook, Bookman said.

The handbook is meant to help keep patrons safe and prevent illegal activity.