In our Australian media, NSW
has recently identified the risk posed by untrained or poorly trained security
guards in the industry. Our own licensing people in Darwin appear to be
ignoring the issue hoping it will go away.
Despite guards wearing flash
uniforms or paramilitary uniforms, this is not an indicator of a well-trained
guard force. Poorly trained guards are a
danger to the community and themselves.
I'd love to set a quick test
of guard knowledge to see how many Territory guards can read, write and speak
English to a standard that meets current AQTF standards and pass a simple test
of security law and operational techniques.
Adverse media reports of crowd
controllers and security guards devalue the work done by well trained and
skilled security practitioners working at the coal face in the industry. Criminals working in the industry, scam
qualifications issued by unscrupulous training providers and crowd controllers
who are more hotel employees than security that have exceeded their powers on
many occasions bring the security industry into disrepute.
Crowd controllers, in the
main, use the power of force whilst well trained security officers use the
power of psychology, well-tuned interpersonal relationship skills, security
technology, rules of engagement for security, the force continuum and the law
to carry out their role.
The security industry is not
well understood in Australia by all levels of society, even our political
leaders. This has to change. The
industry has been constantly evolving over time and Australia has reached the stage
of having security professional status for those that meet stringent criteria
similar to other professional groups in Australia, yet it operates in the dark
where it comes to public or political awareness. ASIAL have accredited trades personnel certified
in security technology yet the general awareness in Australia is severely
limited.
Security is a profession,
having a body of knowledge, education and training standards and a code of
ethics. Our guards are at the first stage of their career that can evolve into
being recognised as being a professional within the industry, after gaining the
experience and educational qualifications.
Even our own Australian police are moving towards attaining that goal
but have not reached it as yet.
Its up to our security
officers guards and other practitioners in the industry to excel in their role,
choose ongoing learning as part of developing their skills and knowledge and
perform their duties in professional
manner. We don't all have to reach Registered Professional status but we should
all strive to be the best at what we do.
We may not get rid of the
cowboys and bullies that seem to gravitate to security guard or crowd
controller jobs but each individual has the potential to change the attitude of
their client employer and the general public through exceeding client
expectations.
Yes I am a Registered Security
Professional having done my time as a guard in a range of different contracts,
been involved at the middle and senior roles in national security in government
agencies and have been accepted as a professional in the US, UK, Malaysia,
Singapore, Indonesia and China (not to mention Canberra and other capitals
around Australia). I have trained Australian and Chinese in security and crime
prevention, have been active in international working groups developing
international standards affecting security so trust me; this is not bull shit.
We either raise the standard of our industry or be prepared to be relegated to
the status of the lowest end of employment in Australia.
Its up to each and every one
of us in the security industry to drive change and enshrine professionalism as
a byword of security. There are more
security guards out in the coal face than specialists working in the field but
it will take the will and personal drive of all to make the necessary changes.
