Bouncers have come a long way since playwright John Godber wrote his famous comedy about them. In his original production, now more than 20 years old, the doormen were as likely to start a fight as prevent one.

The image of bouncers has since undergone a rehabilitation, in York at least. All the stereotypes have been thrown out. Instead of bouncers, we now have door staff. The job is no longer restricted to men - women are out front at both Toffs and The Gallery nightclubs in York. And all the door staff are fully trained.

That training is vital. Candidates for this job need to be part diplomat, part police officer. They have to remain calm in the face of provocation from drunken revellers, and be aware that they are the public face of whichever pub or club they represent.

Ever since the introduction of the Doorsafe Scheme, York has been viewed as a pioneer in this area. It is such a success that the police now regard door staff as a key ally in the battle against alcohol and drug-related crime.

Pioneering initiatives carried out by nightclub doormen and women include airport-style security scans to spot hidden knives on clubbers. Sniffer dogs and closed circuit television have been introduced to catch the drug pushers.

Their crime-busting contribution has been reflected in the increased number of drugs arrests in the city.

The number of people detained for possession has gone up by nearly a third this year, and the police believe that is almost entirely down to the vigilance of door staff. They are making pubs and clubs safer. As a result, parents of clubbers can feel more relaxed when their offspring go for a night out in the city.

This is another example of a police-civilian partnership making life better for us and more difficult for the criminals. And where York has led, the rest of the country may well follow. National club chain Rank Entertainment was so impressed by the work in York that it launched a National Doorsafe Register in the city, which it plans to expand across Britain.

Licensing officers, publicans and the door staff deserve our thanks for making a night out in York significantly safer.

see NEWS 'Club bouncers praised for fightback on drug dealers'

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