SECURITY OFFICERS are often the first line of defence for many businesses from unruly elements.
Officers can be spotted at every major event in Barbados, yet not many people are aware of the issues surrounding security.
Street Beat spoke to two security professionals – Leroy Alleyne, managing director of Tech 9 Crime Prevention Security and Leyland King, managing director of K9 Kings Security – to get their views.
King has been in the field of security in one way or another over the past 15 years. He started as a one-man operation and now has branched off into bailiff services, investigations, property management and errand services with staff of his own.
One of his biggest concerns is the process where people can acquire a security licence. He said it was way too easy and should be reviewed.
“You should have some level of training before a security licence is issued; it is too easy to get one without any actual experience or training. The security firms should be responsible for applying for a licence for someone; let them train with the firm first,”he said.
King said security work was a “burst head” job as many people did not respect security officers and would more likely try to harm them should a confrontation arise.
He said people needed proper training to deal with this type of situation but too often he came across people with a security licence and no idea of how to deal with people or how to handle themselves in an altercation.
In addition, King took issue with the police certificate of character, which he said should be renamed. This was one of the things required when someone was seeking a job with a security company but, as it only lists convictions, he said it was hard to ascertain the true character of the individual.
“If someone was charged with multiple crimes but never convicted, their certificate would be clean. That is why I run background checks and if they had previously worked at another firm, I call that firm and ask questions.
“There has to bea better system where security employers can make an informed decision. We are liable for the safety of that person and we are responsible should that person do foolishness on the job.
“All of us pull from the same pool and with so many of our youth being charged for crimes that pool is becoming smaller,” he said.
As for Alleyne, his pet peeve was the disunity among security firms. He said firms hadto be more professionalwhen hiring people.
“There are peoplewho leave one security company and go to another and tell untruths and that other company believes them and hire them and end upwith problems.
“My policy is simple: it doesn’t matter where you come from, but you have to go through training. People want to just come and get hired but it doesn’t work that way. It’s about the kind of work we do for our clients so we must send someone with integrity,” he said.
Alleyne, who has been in business for almost four years, said he did not look at those who were just looking for a job, but those looking for a a career.
He said more women were applying for security work and he had no problem with that because, with the proper training, a woman was just as capable as a man in security work.
The problem was with how that woman was perceived by the public – as being weak.
Alleyne said security firms were in higher demand than ever, with the current economic depression leading someto crime so it was imperative security firms upped their game and worked more closelywith police. However, he lamented that security officers were often not respected.
“We ought to be respected, we put ourlives on the line to protect people and property so no one should justlook at us as a security guard,” he said.
