It's all about mutual respect

Best-selling true crime author Robin Barratt, who has made Bahrain his home, has launched his latest work at a special book signing session in the kingdom.

Entitled Respect and Reputation - On the Doors, in Prison and in Life and published by Apex Publishing Ltd, it is the fifth literary work of the former bouncer, doorman and bodyguard trainer who has managed nightclubs, a security business and has worked in some of the world's most dangerous trouble spots, including delivering aid to worn-torn Bosnia.

Compiled from real-life experiences and interviews of people experiencing violence in their day-to-day lives, his book attempts to convey a message that aggression does not gain respect, it only results in intimidation.

Mr Barratt, 48, said: "There is so much disrespect in countries like England and there is so much violence, alcohol problems like binge drinking and fighting on the streets that I wanted to write a book from a doorman's perspective because they deal with it all the time.

"My philosophy is that you don't have to be a hard man or be tough and fight people to generate some sort of respect. There are other ways of doing so.

"There are approximately 140,000 doormen in England alone and there are thousands of others who have experienced prison.

"The book is also for prison inmates and tells them how to behave and treat other people, how to command respect and have a reputation without being a bully or a criminal."

The book features interviews with a range of people including doormen, some from the old school with shaven heads and tattoos, and men who have ordinary jobs but work as bouncers for extra cash.

There are lots of true stories, anecdotes and tales of people who have pretended to be hard and found that they have got themselves into very difficult situations because there is always someone tougher and harder to challenge them.

Unlike in the past, when Mr Barratt worked as a doorman, nightclubs are nowadays governed by laws and regulations and fights can cost a doorman his job. Mr Barratt believes that this has in turn caused a lot of disrespect for doormen because the public know that they can say whatever to a security guard and get away with it.

He added: "Some people on the nightclub doors feel that they need to be respected to control the environment and many believe the only way is through intimidation.

"Violence is an instinctive human behaviour. When we walk into a shop and see a big guy we are automatically intimidated. It can't be controlled. But if you live in the kind of violent world that doormen often do, you can still treat other people respectfully first and then they will treat you back in the same way. That message is the fundamental core of the book."

Co-authoring the paperback is Charles Bronson, a category 'A' prisoner in the UK, who has a fearsome reputation of being one of the most violent prisoners.

The two have communicated solely through hand-written manuscripts posted from the prison. Mr Barratt said: "Bronson wrote about his experiences in prison and the criminals he has met there and how he has come to respect them. I wrote my part from the 'street life' perspective and we just put both of them together.

"I wanted to show people that if you lead a violent life you can be absolutely sure that you will end up like Charlie Bronson and he says, do not end up like me. Do not lead a violent life. It will only ruin you and take your freedom away.

"He is 58 and he went inside when he was in his mid-20s. In a way I feel sorry for him as he is still stuck inside because of his reputation. He is feared and although he is now not a violent man they cannot let him out. The reputation he wanted as a violent man has put a noose around his neck."

For the past ten years, Bronson has occupied himself by writing poetry and producing pieces of art; he has had 11 books published, including in 2008 his only self-penned book Loonyology: In My Own Words. He has won 11 Koestler Trust Awards for his poetry and art. In April this year his artwork was displayed on the London Underground at Angel Station for two weeks.

The collaboration started with a previous book, Bouncers and Bodyguards, where Bronson contributed a chapter.

Mr Barratt is now working on his sixth book entitled The Mammoth Book of the World's Hardest Men for the international publisher Constable Robinson. It will feature 30 stories of the toughest people in the world from martial artists, gangsters, doormen and bodyguards.

Signed copies of his latest book are available at Jashanmal Bookstores for BD8.200.