Security guards to attend counter-terrorism training by 2020: Police
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — In the latest move to beef up resources to keep terror attacks at bay, the police announced on Thursday (Oct 19) a new compulsory training module on counter-terrorism for security guards.
The two-day Recognise Terrorist Threats course, developed by the police and SkillsFuture Singapore, will give security guards an idea of current trends in terrorism, and hone their observation skills to identify threats such as improvised explosive devices, as well as how to deal with such threats.
Security guards must complete the training by Jan 1, 2020, or be confined to working at condominiums and warehouses.
“Given the rising threat of terrorism, there is a need to further raise (security officers’) skills and competencies. Attacks overseas have shown that well-trained security officers are able to detect and deter terrorist attacks,” the police said in a news release.
About 80 per cent of the current pool of 47,000 security guards here who are deployed at sites such as schools, commercial and government buildings are expected to undergo the training, which will grant Workforce Skills Qualification certification, on completion.
In response to queries, the police said the remaining 20 per cent of active security guards have either completed a similar training module called Handle Counter Terrorism Activities, or are deployed at condominiums and warehouses.
“Police will consider subsequently extending the Recognise Terrorist Threats training requirement to all security officers,” a spokesperson said.
Industry players welcomed the new requirement, saying it would help security guards play the role of first defenders. With these extra skills, their pay would also improve, they added.
Noting that there are three times more security officers than police officers, President of the Union of Security Employees (USE) Hareenderpal Singh said “training security officers to be able to spot terrorist threats becomes even more important”.
Mr Robert Wiener, president of the Association of Certified Security Agencies (ACSA), said security officers will be able to provide work of better quality and value after the training.
While he expects salaries to improve as a result, Mr Wiener said “I don’t think there’s going to be a great jump”.
The basic monthly salary for a full-time security officer is S$1,100, under the Progressive Wage Model which came into effect for the sector in September last year.
Ms Grace Lim, who is general manager of Reachfield Security & Safety Management, expects to hike salaries by S$50 to S$100 after training is commpleted.
Managing director of SRS Security Amos Kng, 45, said much depends on discussions with clients, but “with this extra training, security guards are able to command a better dollar rate per hour”. He estimates about a 15 per cent jump.
Mr Mohd Idris, a security supervisor who works at the Residences at W Sentosa Cove, thinks he would benefit from counter-terrorism training, even though he is not required to.
“I can improve myself — as a supervisor, it’s important to keep informed. The safety of the residents is very important, and I will definitely take up the course if my boss gives me time off to go for it,” the 58-year-old said. “Some of my colleagues have been through it, and (hearing what they learnt) has made me more aware of possible terror threats.”
Mr Prakash Ramachabran, 33, a security manager who went through the Handle Counter Terrorism Activities module about two years ago, said it has benefitted him tremendously when planning security operations at work.
He said: “After going through the course, I know the extra precautions security officers have to take, and it also gives me more knowledge about terrorist activities. For example, I know that there has been a recent trend of vehicle attacks.” He put his knowledge to good use — for an outdoor event that he was working at, he recommended organisers to set up concrete barriers, which secures the area from vehicle intrusions and “ensures that there is no chance of terrorist attacks of such kinds”.
The Security Association Singapore (SAS) said they had urged members to pass down the message of vigilance against terrorism to their employees for some time.
For instance, officers were encouraged to download the SGSecure app so they can be first responders in times of crisis, said SAS spokesperson Jourdan Sabapathy.
“We have also encouraged security officers to see their role as being greater than (spreading) the basic SGSecure tenets of Run-Hide-Tell, towards being more of facilitators for evacuation, for example,” he added.
