WOMEN are being encouraged to train as bouncers in a bid to fill anticipated shortages in the number of door staff working the region's pubs, clubs and bars.
Already numbers are up, with women accounting for between 10% and 15% of Merseyside's 5,000 door staff, compared to less than 2% ten years ago.
But more are needed in the profession, according to experts who fear shortages prompted by new national regulations that will ban anyone with a criminal record from working as a bouncer.
Industry insiders say more bars are requesting female bouncers, believed to be more skilled at breaking up fights and conducting "pat down" searches for weapons and drugs.
Tony Hughes of GDM security, which trains door staff in Liverpool, says he has seen a significant increase in female applicants since the new regulations were announced two months ago.
Out of each group of 20 trainees, between two and five are women, compared to none or one on average a year ago.
He said: "Liverpool is going to have women bouncers all over the place. Women are generally more spatially aware, they are better communicators, they are more diplomatic and more professional.
"Their whole attitude, the way they present themselves and the way they deal with people in a non-aggressive manner is absolutely spot on. The men have a lot to learn from them."
Carl Finning, co-director at the 33-45, on Parr Street, in Liverpool city centre, specifically recruited a woman bouncer, Viv Hagan-Morgan, 25, to complement the bar's non-aggression policy.
He said: "Women are much better at calming things down, whereas men can go in a bit heavy-handed."
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