Saturday, Nov 10, 2007
Gulf News
Dubai: The police is organising special training programmes for private security companies, Gulf News has learnt.
The training programme will be for security guards working in hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, banks, exchange houses, gold and jewellery shops, residential towers, warehouses, universities and schools.
Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Rafia'a, Director of Administrative and Security Sciences Institute at Dubai Police Academy, said studies have shown that three security sectors do not have enough knowledge of certain security issues.
"The three groups were the security management group, which holds the largest responsibility, the CCTV control room operators and CCTV technicians," he said.
He said these groups had overlooked some of the professional training needed in the security industry.
"We prepare theoretical and practical studies in which security authorities in the country focus on the investigation and crime prevention aspect," he said.
The programme aims at training personnel working in the security field according to Law Number 13 for the year 2005, which relates to security work in the private sector.
It aims to ensure the competence and knowledge of the personnel regarding the laws and procedures, spreading security awareness among the personnel and creating a secure environment for the society.
The five-day training course will have lecturers from Dubai Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) giving lectures on investigations related to drugs, preserving crime scenes, security of tourists and the various laws and regulations of the industry.
Technical knowledge
Lt Col Rafia'a said Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police, has given high priority to providing technical knowledge to security guards.
"Through studies we found out that this aspect has many security gaps such as the equipment being used and their unprofessional manner at crime scenes," said Lt Col Rafia'a.
He said most technicians who install security equipment were not specialised and were either unskilled workers or electricians and had a different work experience.
He said such groups needed security training. The trainee undergoes theoretical and practical training after which he is tested and if successful, gets a licence to practice the profession.
The director said one of the main characteristics of the training programme is that it takes the traditions of the UAE into consideration.
"We have dedicated an entire chapter on the culture, the work mechanism and the methods of dealing with people in the UAE society," Lt Col Rafia'a said.
Participants in the training programme for private security companies receive a certificate, which is recognised internationally.
Gordon Tyerman, an instructor at the CCTV operators programme, said the training helps them in detecting and preventing crimes.
"I believe if CCTV operators got a better understanding of this, they can only improve and help security," he said.
Michael Moore, senior manager, security and fraud risk at a bank, said, "The timing of the training is ideal considering the growing challenges. It is constructive and demonstrates the sincerity of police regarding the challenges we are facing in this field."
Gulf News 2007. All rights reserved.
