A NEW course on how to be the perfect bouncer has been launched at Swindon's New College.

The Door Supervisors Qualification run by the Security Industry Authority leads to an NVQ in Door Supervision and is in two parts.

The SIA has created and will run the course.

SIA spokesman for Robert Buxton said: "In the first part of the course people are taught about appropriate behaviour, the law, searching procedures, drug awareness, recording incidents and crime scene preservation, licensing laws and emergency and evacuation procedures.

"There will also be information about equal opportunities and health and safety.

"The second half, which is about conflict and communication skills.

"It's about how to recognise conflict and how to deal with it and about how to refuse entry or to deal with incidents that occur."

It became compulsory for door supervisors to take the SIA qualification on December 13.

And Robert believes that it will encourage a lot more people, including women, into the industry.

He said: "There has always been a perception about how door supervisors should be. Nowadays though their role is much more about conflict management.

"It's especially important now that the night-time economy is booming and so many more people are going out to nightclubs.

"There are a lot more women going out now and they don't want someone on the door who will be aggressive and put them off.

"As a result we are now attracting a lot more women into the profession. They are very good at communication skills and at diffusing aggressive situations."

Gavin Lloyd, manager of Longs Bar in Victoria Road, welcomes the new qualification.

He said: "I think it's a really good idea because it allows you to have trained staff on the door.

"And hopefully it make them better door staff."

But he said that the door supervisors themselves might not be so happy about having to obtain a new qualification to do their job.

"I can see it putting a few people's noses out of joint to be honest. There is a cost involved although in the long term it's worth it.

"If a doorman has been doing his job for some time he might wonder why he needs a badge to be able to carry on doing his job. There is nothing better than hands-on experience."

Part one of the course runs at New College in Queens Drive for four days from February 5 and from April 2 and part two runs for two days from February 12, March 5 and April 9.

It costs £145 to complete the first part and £95 to complete the second part.

For details call 0808 1721721.

Diana Milne