CITY bouncers have welcomed new rules which would see door staff learn safe restraint and removal of drunk and violent revellers.

The mandatory training, which came into force this week, follows high profile deaths and injuries in bars and nightclubs across the country.

The rules currently apply only to new door staff who have never worked in the industry before.

Door supervisors in Exeter say the training is an "exceptionally good idea". Several of the city's bouncers have been assaulted and suffered injuries during their career.

Exeter Door Supervisors' Association chairman Jim Myers said: "Door staff must always expect the unexpected. It is a dog eat dog culture and some people will do their best to get one up on you. Door supervisors are often seen as trophies, and people will attack us for that reason alone.

"This new training is more important now than ever before. There is a day-to-day risk in the job we do, and I bet there isn't a door supervisor in Exeter who doesn't leave his house for work wondering if something might happen to him that night — it's just that sort of job."

Mr Myers said he had been attacked several times during his 23 years as a door supervisor.

"I started my career in Union Street in Plymouth and got hit in the face twice with a chair," he said. "I've been threatened with a glass bottle and have regularly had verbal abuse.

"This new training is an exceptionally good idea."

Bouncers and other security staff already receive training in non-physical skills before they can legally work in the UK.

But now that training must also include physical intervention techniques like safe restraint and ejection.

The move is part of a widespread shake-up of the door supervisor licence, which now includes lessons in first aid and terrorism awareness.

But groups representing bars and clubs have raised doubts over the cost of the scheme and whether the lessons are appropriate.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said: "We deplore anything that results in injury. But if someone commits an assault, then the law is there to prosecute them.

"We do not see the need for door staff to become paramedics or police — it's a step too far."

The Home Office is now consulting on measures to roll out the new training to all existing bouncers with compulsory top-up training every two years. A final decision is expected later this year.