Condo residents say guards went AWOL

This news headline appeared in page Home 15, The Sunday Times (May 3, 2009).

It seems that two residents had claimed that the guards, including the duty Security Supervisor was missing from their static posts.

The guards were reportedly "missing" at about 0300-0640 hours (3 a.m. - 6.40 a.m.), this incident shouldn't have happened, especially since most guards (except those who are exempted) has undergone either the National Skills Recognition System (NSRS) or the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses to be employed as guards and with the Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) just kicked into effect recently, this incident certainly made a mockery of the SIRD as well as the WDA and other authorities or training schools and open a door to terrorists, transnational criminals, hardcore gangsters, organized crime syndicates, etc an opportunity to expand and strike because they (crime perpetrators) knew such weaknesses, vulnerabilities, breaches and loopholes still exist right here in Singapore!

One female guard was reported to be saying that she was "resting" for 3 hours - what a luxurious break!

Another guard seemed to be "drunk" - this is a no-no under the new Private Security Industry Act (PSIA) new Code of Conduct.

And the Security Supervisor who went out for about 15 minutes to get his breakfast - causing severe security breach while he simply went out without ensuring there is another guard to man his guardhouse - another no-no under the new PSIA new Code of conduct for all licensed guards.

If and should the licensing body, the Security Industry Regulatory Department (SIRD) decide to launch an intensive investigation and should the above allegations be found to be true, then the SIRD should seriously begin to purge these rogue guards by cancelling their 5 years' license because they had compromised security as well as tarnished the negative image that the SIRD, SII, Temasek Polytechnic and approved guard training centers which are trying hard to raise the profile, professionalism and image of the Private Security sector.

Most buildings, factories and plants, warehouses and logistics centers, schools, etc owners or managing agents or the facility management staff failed to ensure proper security procedures and processes are in place and most importantly, actual back-up team to anticipate hanky-panky things from happening whilst the existing guard agency is waiting to withdraw and hand-over to the incoming guard agency.