BOUNCERS are to be taught communication skills in a bid to stamp out the rising tide of town centre violence.

The scheme, introduced by Blackburn with Darwen Council, hopes to scrap the rough image of the traditional doorman and encourage bouncers to actively cut crime.

Under the new policies all doormen must be registered with the council, who will check all applicants for suitability, and candidates will have to complete an intensive training course.

It is hoped the initiative will reduce crime which, council officials claim, can often be started by unsuitable doormen.

Than Ulaga-Nathan, council licensing manager, said: "For establishments to be able to get a public entertainment licence in the future, they will have to register their doormen with us.

"We will check them out with the police and if we feel they are unsuitable, we will not grant them a licence.

"Likewise we will not issue licences if we are not given details of doormen working for the firms."

For doormen to become registered, all applicants have to take part in a training course, providing them with knowledge about licensing laws, drug offences, justifiable assaults, lawful citizens arrests, first aid and fire safety.

Interpersonal skills, communication and personal image will also be featured in the eight-hour course.

Doormen must also adhere to a code of practice which, if broken, could mean they will be struck off the register.

Mr Ulaga-Nathan added: "A lot of crime in the town can be put down to unscrupulous doormen which, with this scheme, we should be able to eradicate."

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