EMPOWERING THE WEAKEST STAKEHOLDER –SECURITY GUARD

Security - word origin from French CURA means "Take care" .The?private security industry?has come a long way from when Allan Pinkerton created his world famous Pinkerton’s Detective Agency in the middle of the nineteenth century. In the intervening 16 decades, there has been a great deal of activity.

?“Security is a fundamental need of humanity hence security service is a recession free business.” Security is the degree of resistance to, or protection from, any harm. It applies to any vulnerable and valuable asset, such as a person, dwelling, community, nation or Organization.

During the 1970’s Private Security Industry was in its nascent stage. Over these five decades or so, Guarding services have transformed into a recognized Industry, complete with watchdog agency, legislations and regulatory framework, the Private Security Agency (Regulations) Act, 2005, (PSARA).

A vast majority of the manned guarding is mainly deployed for physical access control and regulating foot & vehicular traffic (a perception of Darwandari), watch & ward function over physical assets (a perception of Chowkidari) at sites where there is minimum demand and draw on specialist skill sets. Such deployment represents over 95% of manned guarding, which gets locally fulfilled by the unorganized players at low price points on low margins.

?The organized & accredited players have to compete amongst themselves for the balance 5% of market segmented on price, compliances, service quality standards, skills & training, management & ethics. Such stringent competition for prized contracts again gets defeated on the L-1 factor.

The contrarian adaptation is to supremely empower the weakest stakeholder i.e. the Security Guard. When he has the awareness, aspiration, ways & means, a clear direction to his legitimate livelihood & welfare, then he will be spurred to rise up to the expectations of the Industry. Bringing up the weakest & smallest stake unit(s) i.e. the security guard, collectively en-mass can bring dividends in small measures but in huge volumes. It is not referring to skilling and up-skilling alone; it is suggested the Industry and Government may take a good hard look into the entire gamut of socio-economic empowerment and development of the humble security guard, as a national mission. His social security should honestly and genuinely be accrued to him, without short charging him on his legitimate wages, benefits, leave & family welfare, EPF and ESIC benefits and a plethora of other social benefits that the Government entitles employees in this bracket. When employees (beneficiaries) demand better lives & livelihood, better social status and aspire their mainstreaming in society, they will, to the best of my wish and desire, strive to deliver superlative service with pride and dignity. This would be a transformational strategy for the PSI.

Security Guards are the first line of defence against crime. With unpredictable situations, and terror on the rise, the guards are required to gain some basic knowledge on how to react in emergency situations. Additionally, different sectors in the corporate and industry require guards to behave and react accordingly. Ironically with about 10 million people in the security industry, 1.3 million more than India’s police and armed forces combined, formal training to the Security guards has been missing till recent past. ?Private Security Agencies Regulation Act, 2005 (PSARA) has made it obligatory for the Private security agencies to impart formal training to its guards force.

Demand for Guards

·???????? Demand for private security guards is likely to increase by 25% per annum over the next decade. The supply is not expected to meet the demand.

·???????? South India is likely to see an increased demand of 35% over the next decade.

·???????? There is growing demand for women security guards at retail outlets, diamond workshops, textile garments, airports and other places where female visitors are to be frisked. It is providing good job opportunity for women in private security sector.

?

?Supply of Guards

·???????? It is expected that supply of trained manpower in the sector will grow at 10% annually over the next decade. In absolute numbers: approximately seven lakh to one million guards will join the sector every year.

·???????? Only 20% of the manpower requirement is expected to be met through organized supply (compliant with PSARA training requirements those who are likely to stay for more than one year).

·???????? Current attrition levels in the sector stand at 40% for untrained guards and 15% for trained guards. The numbers are likely to remain same over next decade.

Security Guard Duties

Communities, whether small or large primarily depend on trained security personnel to guard their homes, businesses, and public offices. They count on security guards to patrol their property to deter criminal activity, lock and open secured gates, operate surveillance cameras, and so much more.

Security guards should be alert, vigilant, and possess exceptional analytical skills and stamina to perform in their job. While specific duties may differ from one Security Company to another, here are some common duties that help to define the roles of security officers.

1. Securing the Premise

Security guards are frequently positioned as the first line of defense for businesses and homes against any illegal activity or external threat. Unlike police officers who deploy offensive tactics such as apprehending criminals or detaining assailants after an incident has occurred, security guards take preventative measures to deter crime and maintain safety for everyone.

Securing the property comes with several layers. These include:

- Patrolling the property:?Security guard patrols make sure personnel and premises are safe by regularly making the rounds to prevent damage, burglary, and other unexpected occurrences. They assess on the spot if something looks out of place.

- Monitoring the premises:?Security officers monitor and observe the environment they are protecting using monitoring equipment and building controls. If the situation calls for it, the officers can start investigating or call for additional help.

- Controlling access:?They will control access for employees, visitors, and outside contractors and generally ensure that only authorized individuals gain access to office buildings, warehouses, event sites, and other assigned locations.

- Inspections:?Security guards are usually responsible for inspecting buildings and ensuring that doors and access points are properly locked up and secured.

- Proper log management:?From a security point of view, logs should serve as a red flag when something unusual is happening. Maintaining proper logs and reviewing them regularly could help identify malicious attacks on your security system.

2. Securing Personnel

Securing personnel is another major role of security officers. With the increased risks across the world, it has become more necessary for certain individuals to have personal security. The security guards partner with you or your family to create a plan customized to meet your safety and security goals. Besides personal protection, they provide security for your employees around and, on your premise, helping them become more productive in a secure and safe environment.

3. Protecting Assets

Security guards can help businesses prevent the loss of valuable company resources. Businesses across all industries hire professional security personnel to help protect their most valuable assets. An organization's assets are vital to a functional and successful business considering the unexpected loss of company assets can cause setbacks which can significantly affect its bottom line.

4. Observation and Reporting

Reporting is an important part of any guard's responsibilities. A security guard is expected to note their daily observations and report them in accordance with the established protocols. Usually, this will involve informing the manager, reporting to a supervisor, or calling the authorities or emergency services as warranted.

?

5. Incident Response

Security guards provide leadership and direction in emergencies and times of crisis. Whenever the security guards aren't equipped to handle certain situations, it's their duty to contact the concerned authorities at the earliest and ask for additional help. They are also tasked with reporting irregularities such as property damage, theft or any usual occurrence. They act as a knowledgeable resource and point of contact for the authorities in the event of a security situation.

6. Communication

Being a security guard requires more than just making rounds and making sure things are safe and clear. Communication is an integral part of the job. When it comes to safeguarding a building, personnel or valuable things, it will suit everyone's best interest if the security guards communicate effectively and efficiently at all times.

7. Damage Control

Security guards are also adept at assessing threats and suggesting solutions that help to protect people and places against possible risks. If employees are lax on some security protocol, security services can look into the matter and offer additional measures that can help avoid trouble. They should be able to anticipate events and act quickly to avert crises. Obviously, this will require a keen sense and focused mind.

8. Traffic Control

Additionally, they control traffic by ensuring that safety procedures are consistently maintained. They also investigate traffic accidents and give drivers assistance when necessary. They can also be used to cordon off specific areas.

9. Crowd Management

Security officers are often used in crowd control or supervising parking in major events be it a convention, a conference, or even a celebration event. They ensure that these places and events remain orderly and free from the chaos that can endanger lives or property.

Being a security officer comes with a great deal of responsibility. That's why proper security training is so essential to ensure even the simplest responsibility isn't overlooked.