Hotel Safety

[Travels]

This is my story but I know tis has happened to other people too. In May I was staying in a Hotel and at 1 am the hotel receptionist let himself into my room. He grabbed my leg and luckily, I woke up and screamed the place down and he ran from the room. The called the police on 999 but they refused to send anyone instead they phoned the hotel and giving the impression it was OK as he had not broken in he had used his key card. I then realised if I went back to sleep, he could come back as there was no deadlock on the door that the hotel staff could not override. I then went down to reception to find a manager or something. When I got to reception, he was the only person on. So I said to him It was you, you were in my room why were you in my room and he replied because you are a 'Pathetic Bitch' I then put my phone on immediately video as I was terrified. The rest of the conversation is here:

 

I then got my company to find me another hotel and moved out of the Travelodge approx 2am. He then tried to lock me out of the hotel while I was packing the car. Video to show that is at the link below.

 

The police have since confirmed he was known to them. The hotel have since confirmed they do not DBS check their staff as it is not industry standard and is not required. If they had enhanced dbs checked their staff, he would possibly not have been given the job and access to my room. The whole incident was terrifying. I have started a petition to make all hotels Enhance DBS check their staff. Please consider signing and sharing this email as I need 10,000 signatures for Parliament to comment and 100,000 for it to be debated in Parliament. I want to make hotels safe for women and children and anyone as all people are venerable when they are asleep.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/640926

Signed.

So sorry this happened to you. Thank you for starting the petition and sharing the videos.

What did Travelodge say about this? He's not still in a job I hope

That's horrific, thanks for the petition

Could they see it was his key card that was used? Horrific for you, cockey shit. (Him obviously not you). Signed.

Signed. I imagine the Lucy Spraggan case also will make people receptive to signing this. If you haven't already contacted local and national press, OP, consider doing so, though you should be careful about how the videos are shared.

Unfortunately OP anyone who has worked in hotels knows this all too well.

I have a special lock (£10) off amazon that I use. Before i had that I would put the chair in front of the door.

It doesnt excuse what has happened to you but hotels are not inherently safe and DBS checking would only scratch the surface as it would only flag those who have been caught.

In my experience, working in lots of hotels:

• references arent routine and the high turn over of staff would be a nightmare to administrate
• master key cards were often passed from person to person and rarely deactivated if lost
• chefs are in short supply and I came across alot with prior sex offenses
• smaller hotels will only have 1 night porter on duty who will have full access to the rooms (as you have found out).

Oh my gosh, that's awful! I'm so sorry this happened to you 💐

@Rainbowsandrainclouds1 please can you link to the special lock?

Sorry this happened OP

Johiux Upgraded Portable Door Lock Security, Travel Door Lock Without Drilling,Black Stainless Steel Lock for Home,Hotel,School,Dormitory,FlatSecurity Device Door Locker from Inside. https://amzn.eu/d/4thNnQL

There are different ones but this is the most universal.

Interestingly, i remembered a thread a few years ago when OP was incensed a hotel wouldnt let her leave her kids in the room sleeping whilst her and her husband were in the restaurant. I pointed out that alongside the risk of fire the risk of abduction or sexual assult by staff or other people gaining access was possible - I was basically told to not be so hysterical.

Thank you 😊

Women not safe even behind a locked door, can't imagine how terrifying that would have been.

There was a thread on here a few years ago, where a woman had been staying in a travelogue and had an employee come into her room. If I remember rightly she had been alone when booking in but her Mum was joining her later, so they were together when the man came in. Horrifying, thanks for the petition OP.

That is horrendous. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I’ve signed.

I'm horrified that this happened in my home city and somewhere where visiting family might stay should we or DM be unable to host (DM lives nearby).
Signed.

I recommend taking a cheap door wedge with you and putting it under the door from the inside.

I'm sorry this happened to you OP. How scary. Potential rapist.

That's absolutely terrifying. I agree about hotel night staff being checked, and echo what pp said about the shocking Lucy Spraggen case.

Oh and I've signed your petition. Let's hope mumsnet can get it to 100,000.

This reminds me of an experience I had as a child staying in a hotel with my Mum. A guys who worked there tried to come into our room at 11pm and my Mum and I were terrified. It was the middle of nowhere and we were the only ones staying in the b and b. I guess with hindsight we should have called the police but I think my Mum assumed they wouldn’t come out - this was 30 years ago, I was about 10. We ended up pushing the bed against the door and sleeping against it and we did a runner in the early hours of the next morning.

I'm so sorry you went through this. I've also signed the petition.

So sick of predatory men and what they do to women. It’s utterly appalling.

I’m very sorry this happened to you OP. I had a perverted hotel receptionist try to join me in my room when I was in my late teens.

Signed. Awful situation, and one not one that you would expect. I don't think DBS alone would save everyone from the same, but it must help.

Happened to a friend of mine. Luckily, in her case, I think the employee thought she was out and was planing to rob her, not assault her. He mumbled some excuse when she challenged him, and left, but it was still very scary.

I use one of these whenever I'm alone in a hotel. They're excellent, and also remove quickly in case of fire.

Signed.

Signed