Information & Support for Door Supervisors - National Doorwatch

Bill Butler, rings the bell for the start of the first round of the new changes to the Door Supervision qualification. But when the dust settles who are likely to be the the winners and the losers.

Door supervisors get Sofa time on BBC Breakfast

The introduction was typical "Bouncers to get training in Physical Interventions"  Fortunately, it was pointed out that we are now known as Door Supervisors.  Overall it was all very nice, all very bland, with the point pushed home by the chap in the wheelchair who is going to be paralysed for the rest of his life.  No decent human being can say his fate should be the end result of a night out on the town.  The person responsible for the injury is now serving time at Her Majesty's pleasure, as a result of headlock gone wrong.  The message to the whole industry is clear - never apply physical pressure, or holds to any area of the neck - it can be catastrophic for the lives of all concerned.

What gave the greatest cause for concern though, was the idea Door Supervisors will now be able to prevent these injuries from ever happening.  This is a very dangerous idea to put into the mind of the public and the legal system.  Firstly we have the question of quality, in relation to training, and the training provider.   How will a newcomer know where to go?  Will they be drawn to those companies which guarantee a pass?  Will the need to earn an income lead them into fraudulently obtaining their License?  Mostly you need to be certain the certificate you have been issued with has come from a properly qualified trainer.  Already fake trainers certificates are being found, which of course invalidates your certificate, and if you own the company, potentially your insurance! 

Secondly will the trainers teach them how to justify the techniques they use?  Will the trainer properly explain the law relating to the "use of force",  in regard to the decisions they made at that moment in time.  Will the trainer make it clear that this training doesn't in any way remove their right to "Self-Defence"?  Will trainers for the sake of expediency or lack of experience choose to ignore the legal dimension and just ignore it, saying its been covered elsewhere in the syllabus?  

Finally the one thing you can guarantee is it will all be down to you.  If you get the wrong training you could easily get hurt - because of the time you take working out what you're supposed to do!  If you hurt someone you will have to be able to justify all your decisions in a Court of Law - and if you get it wrong - the best you can hope for is to lose your badge!