The Straits Times – 22 Mar 2004

They were among 18,000 screened by police in January to November last year; tighter screening follows condo rape case

By K.C. Vijayan

TIGHTER screening of would-be security guards has left David Marshall Fernandez unable to find a job as a guard because he has a criminal record.

Mr Fernandez, 46, who used to be a security supervisor, managed to get police approval for this kind of work last October. But when he applied again in January this year, he was rejected.

The police told him in two separate letters he was unsuccessful because he was convicted for theft on Dec 11, 1982 and for drug possession on June 11, 1993.

Some 7,000 applications were rejected out of about 18,000 screened by the police from January to November last year.

Mr Fernandez thinks he's a casualty of the industry shake-up following the conviction of a security guard last October for raping a woman who lived in the condominium where the guard worked.

Since then, the police have set minimum competency levels and speeded up the screening of applications online, so that they are completed in five days instead of two weeks.

They have also beefed up the mandatory National Skills Recognition System training programme in patrolling and incident management for security guards.

About 3,000 guards had been certified by January this year, said police spokesman Stanley Norbert.

He said: 'Private security guards play an important role in securing our properties.

'In view of this and their access to private properties, we must ensure that only persons who are reliable, trustworthy and well-trained are selected.'

The police will review the selection criteria from time to time, he said, 'taking into consideration threat assessments, and in line with the provisions of the Private Investigators and Security Agency Act'.

None of which satisfies Mr Fernandez. Yes, he is an ex-con, he said, but added: 'In my work I have helped nab suspected illegals and kept a clean record. All this is now forgotten and what is remembered are the wrongs done more than 10 years ago.'

Former security guard A. Jebpraghas, 57, who was also rejected because of his criminal record, appealed through his MP, Mr Yeo Guat Kwang (Aljunied GRC), and learnt earlier this month that the appeal had succeeded.

The police said they would consider each appeal on its own merits.

Industry professionals lauded police moves to tighten entry and improve skills, but they felt more could be done by way of recognising the role these guards play.

Would-be guards should apply directly to the police for clearance instead of going through a security agency as they do now, said Security Association of Singapore vice-president S.R. Gopal.

When the police and industry officials last met a fortnight ago, the police indicated that they would consider this, he added.

Security consultant Lionel de Souza said the moves make the industry more credible and help to build public trust and confidence.

'Guards were previously seen as a necessary evil, so that building managers could get lower insurance premiums.

'This attitude is now changing,' said Mr de Souza.