A national roll-out of local pubwatch-style groups for doorstaff, to share information on troublemakers and promote best practice, is being planned.

Doorwatch sees door supervisors keeping in contact with each other and police and bringing information on troublemakers to the attention of licensees.

The scheme originated in Tiverton in Devon where it was credited with achieving a 17% drop in alcohol-related disorder. It operates in other parts of the region, plus Coventry, and is expected to start in Nottingham.

Security expert Ian Fox, a director of the Institute of Conflict Management, is helping to co-ordinate the scheme nationally, along with its founders Gerald Eva and Jason Gardner.

There are plans for local coordinators and a national committee, mirroring the set-up of the National Pubwatch scheme.

A central website is being devised to share best practice and promote the positive side of the industry. It will also lobby on various issues affecting doorstaff.

In addition, ideas for campaigns on civil action against thugs who attack doorstaff, and providing a counseling service are being considered. Services would be free.

National Pubwatch chairman Steve Baker said: “I welcome anything that improves the professionalism of doorstaff.

“However, I would offer a few words of caution. I would not want to see doorstaff or police using the new organisation to influence the running of licensed premises at arms length.

“The term ‘doorwatch’ suggests a similar function to that already effectively carried out by existing pubwatch schemes. There should be no confusion as to the role of doormen and licensees in the management of licensed premises.”

He suggested a name change for doorwatch to avoid confusion.

Fox stressed: “It’s up to the pubwatch to decide who gets banned. We are absolutely not involved in that decision. Our role is to communicate information that helps make the night-time economy safer for all.”

beSmart Training offers courses for would-be door supervisors on a regular basis.  To work as a door supervisor now you must attend a four-day course and successfully pass two multiple-choice examinations to get the required qualification.  Once you have your qualification you must then apply for a Security Industry Authority (SIA) Front Line Door Supervisor Licence.

For more information on beSmart Training’s courses go to our website at www.besmart-trainnig.co.uk or email us on info@besmart-training.co.uk.

A much talked about qualification for music promoters, which is being developed by awarding body BIIAB with the support of the Metropolitan Police, has been given a massive thumbs up by some of the top names in the music business.

The BIIAB Level 2 Award for Music Promoters (AMP) qualification is still in development but the first round of piloting has taken place and candidate feedback has been excellent. Among the first ‘students’ was Ray Paul, Executive Producer for Weekend Programming at BBC Radio 1, who commented: “I found the course invaluable and very thorough. I learnt many things about areas I knew little about and I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about working in, and promoting, events.”

Mike Anthony of BBC Radio 1 Xtra’s Rampage also took part in the pilot and he added: “Being on this workshop has highlighted aspects of the industry that are taken for granted and overlooked generally. This [qualification] will sort the men from the boys and improve a sector that needs desperate help. It also raises awareness, especially for new promoters, as well as encouraging a sense of responsibility.”

Fellow candidate Delon Edwards from Inc Group, commented that the qualification: “Will give confidence, I think, to larger corporate bookers that they have somebody who will look into the ‘ins and outs’ of running an event. I think if the team have this [qualification] it’s a step to professionalism.”

The AMP qualification, which is due to be launched in the new year, is considered to be the first step towards promoting and enhancing the standard, quality and legacy of promoters and events. This, in turn, will increase customers’ confidence and have a positive impact on stimulating the entertainments and leisure economy.

The project was instigated by the clubs and vice division of the Metropolitan Police who approached BIIAB, the market-leading awarding body for the licensed retail industry, to create a qualification which would encourage professionalism and best practice within this niche industry. Chief Inspector Adrian Studd of the Met Police Clubs and Vice Unit said: “BIIAB has our full support in the development of this award which we believe will help set and maintain the highest standards in the field of music promotion.”

Music promoters Pete Peart and Mark Clarke have made an invaluable input to the development of the qualification and they commented: “The whole idea of the course is to get active promoters to take a second look at their current methods used when organising events and for those that are entering the industry to understand and implement best practices.”

BIIAB is one of the few awarding bodies which pilots its qualifications to ensure they are fit for purpose before they are launched nationally. Candidates for the AMP pilot consisted of music promoters, club operators and various local authority representatives, including the police and council licensing officers. The pilot was held over two consecutive days and was concluded with a forty minute multiple choice examination. The AMP has already been accredited by the qualifications regulator Ofqual.

Feedback from the pilot will now be analysed and any necessary changes will be made before it is launched nationally in early 2010.

beSmart Training is hoping to offer this qualification when it is officially launched next year.  Watch this space for more info when it becomes available.  All beSmart Training’s courses are on our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk.