I went to a BIIAB presentation on Wednesday and they have, at last, announced when the new door supervisor qualification will be introduced and what format it will take.

This new course will be introduced on 1st June 2010 and will replace the current qualification completely.  The new qualification is called the Level 2 Award in Door Supervision and replaces the old Level 2 National Certificate for Door Supervisors.

The new course will remain a four-day course, but will now be in four units:

• Unit One:      Working in the Private Security Industry
• Unit Two:      The Role of the Door Supervisor
• Unit Three:   Conflict Management for the Private Security Industy
• Unit Four:     Physical Intervention

There will now be three multiple-choice exams; one for each of unit one, two and three.  Unit four will be tutor assessed throughout the training.

Importantly, there is no cross over between the old door supervisor qualification and the new door supervisor qualification.  Anyone who has not yet completed the current qualfication, or has to resit examinations, has until the end of August 2010 to do so.  After that date, if they haven’t attained the old qualification they will have to do the whole of the new course.

Similarly, if you already have another qualification, you will NOT be able to just sit the relevant unit.  You will have to do the full course at least once.  Thereafter if you want to apply for another licence you will only need to do the units previously not taken.  For instance you can do the new full door supervisor course and if you wanted to then become a vehicle immobiliser you would only have to take the sector specific unit for vehicle immobilisation.

If you already hold a physical intervention qualification from the BIIAB/Skills for Security it has not yet been confirmed whether this will count as accredited prior learning for unit four of the new course.

beSmart Training will be ready to teach this new qualification as soon as its available.  Please call Sue on 020 7237 6007 if you have any queries, or check out the website at www.besmart-training.co.uk.

The Yorkshire Evening post yesterday reported that a Wakefield doorman has been jailed for six months after punching a Leeds nightclubber in the face.

Paul Bartley, 25, of Plumpton Street, Wakefield, was found guilty of malicious wounding and grievous bodily harm.

The victim, a 30-year-old man, had been in the Mission nightclub toilets last August when he was approached by Bartley and asked to leave the premises.

After a row, Bartley punched the man causing serious facial injuries.

PC Amy Spencer, from British Transport Police, said: “This was a completely unprovoked, vicious assault on a member of the public who had simply gone on a night out to enjoy himself with friends.

“As a door supervisor, Bartley’s role was to ensure the safety of members of the public attending the club. He abused his position and authority and obviously thought he was above the law.”

Bartley has also had his Security Industry Authority (SIA) door supervisors’ license revoked.

Suzi says…

This is exactly the kind of door supervisor we do NOT need in the industry.  Door supervisors are employed to ensure staff and customers are safe and should be professional at all times.  Contrary to popular belief, with cetain obvious exceptions, door supervisors are no longer the thugs and bullies of yesteryear.   They are well trained professionals who are licensed by the Government to undertake a very difficult, and at time dangerous, job.   It is about time the law started punishing the old-school “bouncers” who do still think it’s acceptable to slap people around.  Perhaps then the message will get through that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable.  beSmart Training regularly runs courses for people who want to become door supervisors.  We have over fifty years experience in door supervision between us and we pride ourselves on providing good, professional and thorough training that will benefit any door supervisor in their chosen career.