ABU DHABI // Mall security guards have complained that they do not have enough power to do their jobs properly and are overworked.
One security guard company in Abu Dhabi also said that malls lacked female security personnel, an issue thrust into the spotlight after American teacher Ibolya Ryan was brutally stabbed to death in a women’s toilet near Waitrose supermarket at Boutik Mall on Reem Island last week.
Some security guards said they feared for their jobs and felt unable to instruct wealthy individuals if they needed to.
One guard at a large shopping mall in the capital, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Guards should be more empowered so that we can effectively do our duties. When an affluent person or an Emirati raises their voice, the security guards get frightened and can’t do their duties properly.”
He said no one cared for security guards and many people believed they were only there to give people directions.
“But truly, we are here to provide security and safety to all visitors,” he said. “We can stop people in case of suspicion and sometimes we do. But we need more cooperation from the people, too.”
Another issue that affected guards’ ability to do their jobs to the fullest was their long working hours. Most security personnel at malls worked 12-hour days, seven days a week. Each day their companies gave them four hours overtime for working their shift, to keep in line with the country’s labour law.
The guard added: “These hours must be divided for rest. Guards can’t stand for so many hours, they need rest. If companies provide them with an hour’s rest after every four hours work, that would be good.”
Salesh, who only gave his first name, is an operations manager at a security and cleaning company in Dubai. He said his company’s guards got a 10 to 15-minute break every four hours.
“If we give them a one-hour break, who will do their part and how they are going to monitor and ensure security of people?” he asked.
Taufeeq Khaled, who worked in the control room of Securiguard Middle East, in Abu Dhabi, said his company saw the demand for both male and female security guards.
He said that security guards underwent a lot of training. “We follow very intensive programmes for our security guards and they are properly trained before taking up the job,” said Mr Khaled. “They have also to pass Ministry of Interior tests.”
Salesh added that security guard training programmes were frequent but courses at his company had been increased since the Boutik Mall murder.
Another mall security guard said more women should be deployed so areas such as ladies toilets could be covered.
“The community must understand and cooperate when stopped for security checks,” he said, “because it’s for their own security.”
He said you would never see a security guard stopping a local or affluent person to check their bags, for instance.
“If a woman is wearing a veil, most security guards feel hesitant to approach them, but if there is a female guard, they could keep an eye on any suspected activities.”
The security supervisor at Boutik Mall would not comment.
anwar@thenational.ae
