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Focus on guard training

Over the past few months the security and cash-in-transit industry has been clouded with negative sentiment over the conduct displayed by their employees. Most established and reputable organisations are concerned and are calling for a review on how guards, protection officers and security employees are being appointed.

While it is somewhat problematic to determine the actual number of players in the security sector, according to PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority), there is an estimated 1,9 million members in the industry; with about one quarter of these individuals, 421 534, being active or serving in the industry.

Grant Dunnington CEO of SBV Services says, “One of the primary reasons resulting in under-qualified guards being posted is due to the widespread lack of compliance with registration requirements. It is assumed and expected that security employees who work in the industry attend courses approved by PSIRA, however, we know that this is in fact is not the case.”

Compliant security guards are even more important in the cash-in-transit (CIT) industry. This is because they work in particularly stressful and dangerous environments on a daily basis and while responsible for large quantities of cash; they are also armed at all times, hence the importance of stringent recruitment processes and on-going training.

In a bid to ensure that all SBV’s logistics employees are compliant with PSIRA’s standards, there are a number of steps that the company takes, the first being its stringent recruitment process.

All candidates undergo an extensive vetting check. This includes a criminal check, a fingerprint analysis, and a voice stress analysis. Should the candidate be successful, they then undergo an extensive interview process where they are scrutinised to ensure that they have the necessary skills.

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