A pioneering scheme devised by North Yorkshire Police could lead to a national body to bring door staff into line.

From left to right: doorman Tony Stannard, Bill Powrie, of Business Link North Yorkshire, PC Dave Boag and doorman Chris Watkins

The National Doorsafe Register, designed by North Yorkshire Police to make licensed premises safer by training and regulating doorstaff, was launched last year and has now been presented to the Home Office for approval to be adopted nationwide.

North Yorkshire Police licensing officer PC Dave Boag said: "With the recent news about the possibility of 24-hour licences we feel it is vital that door staff across the country are regulated by, and accountable to, one controlling body.

"Doorstaff have been linked with organised crime in the past. Many were unprofessional and were more of a hindrance than a help to licensees trying to control their premises.

"A number of police forces across the country have shown an interest in our scheme along with various local authorities and we believe it would be of huge benefit to the public if adopted by the government."

Business Link North Yorkshire has teamed up with the police to promote the scheme, and adviser Bill Powrie said they wanted to help expand it nationally by advising North Yorkshire Police on developing and using a business strategy.

An 18-month Home Office study has found that present training and vetting standards in the different local authorities vary hugely.

Under the North Yorkshire scheme, applicants must attend a two-day training course and have their criminal records checked. If they are deemed fit to work on a door they are issued with a three-year licence.

Their details are put into a database which is monitored by the police and can be accessed by pub and club managers via a website which gives up-to-the-minute data on all door staff - ensuring thugs and criminals are unable to work on doors.

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