DOOR staff working in Southampton's pubs and nightclubs could be issued with handcuffs to help restrain violent customers, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Police chiefs are drafting guidelines on the possibility of arming door supervisors with the solid steel restraints - as a way of better protecting themselves and members of the public.

About 50 licensees who manage venues across the city centre will be given information on the possible introduction next week.

If the idea gets the go-ahead, the policy will eventually be pushed out to police officers detailing what they should do and what procedures to follow if they are called to an incident where a customer has been detained with handcuffs.

The controversial idea follows the release of Home Office figures that revealed there are seven violent attacks in the county's pubs, clubs and bars every day.

In the year to March 2004 there were 2,417 violent offences committed in or outside licensed premises.

The staggering statistics rank Hampshire as the seventh most violent of the 36 police forces in England and Wales.

In Southampton alone there are around 100 late-night venues including late-licence pubs and casinos and many of them are staffed every weekend by up to 200 qualified door staff in the city.

The licensees of each of the premises have formed a body which looks at ongoing problems and new initiatives to help the night-time economy run more effectively.

Licensing Link was formed in 2000 after each of the city's Pubwatch schemes were axed in favour of a bigger organisation which has the backing of Hampshire police.

The idea of equipping door supervisors with handcuffs is the latest topic topping their agenda.

Richard Alborough, chairman of Licensing Link, said: "This is something that we are talking about and we will continue to work alongside the police on.

"In preparation the police are preparing guidance which will eventually be distributed to officers. The policy will be sent out to all officers attending an incident and it will advise them to follow a procedure.

"That will involve things like firstly removing the handcuffs from the customer detained and replacing them with their own. They will also have to log all the information that would normally be logged by a custody officer when a suspect is brought in for questioning - like looking at whether there is any bruising to the wrists."

Mr Alborough, who runs a pub in the city, added: "We certainly are talking about it and guidelines are being drafted.

"Initial guidance will also be issued to members of Licensing Link next week."

Simon Craze, managing director of Knight Security, which employs 62 door supervisors that work in the city centre as well as Eastleigh, Salisbury and Reading, would like to see handcuffs introduced for his staff.

He said: "The safety of my staff is paramount as well as that of the customers and bar staff and I would welcome handcuffs for my door supervisors as long as they are used right and the right training is given.

"The police can often take a long time to respond to an incident and this is one way of calming a situation down effectively by taking swinging arms out of the equation.

"It also means just one person need stay with the customer while others can go back inside and do their jobs ensuring the safety of everyone else. This would be a good thing to have on our side."

But could the introduction of handcuffs be a helping hand for overstretched officers who have the responsibility of policing the city's streets at closing time or another market for ambulance chasing law firms to file a claim?

Strict procedures are already in place when officers make an arrest and take someone into any of the county's custody suites. When a prisoner is booked in they are immediately checked over to see if the handcuffs have made any markings, caused bruising or even resulted in broken bones.

Sgt Stewart Chandler, licensing officer for the city who is based at Hulse Road, gave a cautious welcome to the idea.

He said: "I was a little bit alarmed when I first heard about the issue of handcuffs but it has emerged that there is no act preventing door supervisors from carrying them. The police use rigid handcuffs and if they are not put on properly they can cause immense damage. If someone struggles they are more likely to break their wrist or their arm than move the handcuffs - they are solid steel."

He added: "There is no question that door supervisors have to be hands-on with customers who need dealing with firmly - that is part of their job. Therefore it is so important they know how to do that properly and some sort of accredited training would have to be in place.

"The use of handcuffs applied properly would mean there is less chance of assault on the door supervisors or a police officer and also much less likely that the individual being restrained is assaulted. You could say it would also be something that would help the police as well. However we would have to ensure handcuffs were used in the right way and door supervisors were confident in how to use them correctly otherwise it could open a minefield of problems, accusations and ultimately litigations."

His calls were echoed by Steve Price, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, who said: "It's a very fine line and should be treated with caution. There's lots of things to consider. Door supervisors would have to be accredited to a certain standard and it would depend on the level of training given.

"It does take officers some time in the interim period if someone has been detained for a particular purpose at a nightspot and it would seem sensible, to prevent injury to both the staff and perhaps the individual, that they should be handcuffed.

"However there is a worry that people who have been detained by door staff are going to start making allegations that they have been assaulted because of injuries to their wrists. It could even work out that they feel they have been wrongly detained - then who is going to be liable?

"There would have to be some sort of insurance scheme if this went ahead - it could be a bit of a minefield."

What do you think of doormen being issued with handcuffs?

Write to the Southern Daily Echo, Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 9JX or e-mail newsdesk@soton-echo.co.uk