Ask the....Security Guard!

[newo]

Weeeellll, I thought I'd get on the bandwagon and start a new 'Ask The' topic. So any questions, ask away!

[ucwepn]

What do you guard? are you armed?

[Shifty1]

Have u had to hit anyone? (honest question)

Been bashed before? (i was considering this career at one point and am curious)

[newo]

No I haven't had to hit anyone. Security these days is more about customer service, not about smashing heads. Unfortunately, many people see guards as people who want to start trouble. Don't get me wrong; there are guards out there who will do that, plus there are the people out there who will want to try and provoke guards. Then when a guard applies force when necessary, and it is applied within the law, the media get hold of it and the guard is made to look like the bad guy eg: the David Hookes incident.

Don't forget that security guards are only civillians doing a civillian job. We aren't Police members, we follow the same legal Acts that civillians follow. We also undergo training - security isn't a job you can just start the next day. You need to be licensed, which isn't cheap, which is the same as the courses.

And no, I haven't been hit before.

We have a large responsibility, and aren't looked upon as a profession. However there is a large range of fields, and the work can be, and is, very rewarding.

[Troy711]

do you hate it when people call you a failed police officer and a rent-a-cop?

[newo]

I have got a firearms license, and I do armed work occasionally. Don't usually get called a rent a cop, or failed police officer. Not that it bothers me, I haven't even tried yet to become a police officer.

[Shifty1]

Interesting response.. do you work for say an angency which assigns you to various locations?

[kowan]

A Security Officer average count for being hit is once a year if you are working at clubs and pubs. If your not getting hit on this average % then your either not doing your job right and the place your working at is at complete chaos or your born lucky.

A "key swinger" (Mobil patrol officer) may walk up to 10 kms per night and may check 200 doors or more 3 times per shift.

There are really easy jobs where you have to guard and stand beside an object. Have you ever stood in one place for more then 4 hours at one time and make out that your really interested in your job? Sometimes you have to ask people to move their cars from a parking lot and they go off their lil sweet heads at you and you have to take this abuse on the chin. Sometimes there is violence, where the person/people may come back at you while your not looking and belt you with something.

The best part of being a Security Officer/Guard you get paid $16-$18 per hour. if your lucky!!! You may receive a few broken bones here or there too.

My advice is "Get a better career"

[pro_gmh]

What sort of authority do gaurds have etc?

[newo]

Yes, I do work for an agency and we receive various contracts to work. And I don't consider security a career, unless I were somewhat higher up in the Chain of Command in a company. If a person doesn't get hit, then they are doing their job properly. Does it matter if you walk up to 10 kms per night and check doors? And dealing with people, sure some are abusive, but what does it matter? It's not suited to everyone, but there are some people who enjoy the work. Are you a security guard kowan? Or were you? Just curious as to where you got your info. Honestly, I don't mind security. I'm a bit of a people person and like interaction.

I'm hoping this year to get into the Police Force, and it is security which has given me this interest.

[kowan]

Yes Newo, I did the hard yards for 7 years, been there done that and moved on. Being a father and having the chance to watch your children growup and have their own kids is my cup of tea in life. One false move and you could lose it all being in that game newo.

[Camz]

I am also a Security officer & have been for 10yrs with one company this October.
I am waiting for October with anticipation as I intend to take long service & change careers.
10yrs in this game should be enough for anyone!

Camz

[newo]

That's cool, at least you've been in security. Depends on what contracts you pick up, or your company picks up. I'm only young, single and for now am trying my hand at whatever comes along.

I don't mind the gigs we do. It depends on what work you enjoy. I want to leave though because I want more action in work. Plus I like to see what other jobs there are out there.

[drewins]

Can u take my alcohol if i bring it into a pub. Cos one security guy did last weekend. He probably sold it too.

[fatboy2869]

I have worked in security for 13 years and have found it very rewarding i have travled all over the Australia and overseas doing it i worked in highend security doing bands bodyguard work and cash escorts and stuff like that

I strated out doing pubs and clubs and let me tell u those where the bad old days when ppl where just out to take on a security guard i have seen some good thing and some not so good things i have seen guard that do mobile patrols bashed when they have turned up to an alarm have seen the delta blues treat security guards like crap and then again have seen them treat the alright to.

I have also run my own bussines doing body guard work/mobile patrol work contracting to a major security compeny in Sydney that now from what i have been told has gone broke. I also carried a sided arm and have been shot 2 times stabed 10 time but u have to remember that one of the compeny's i worked for use to get all the jobs that no one else would take where ther would be a bad eleament and we would go in and clean it up and that sort of stuff

And yes a security guard can take your alcohol from u couse u are on a lincess venue and the whole idear of takeaway alcohol is that u take it away and drink it same way u cant take alcohol that u have bourght from over the bar at a pub outsided with u i reckon u get hold of the licquer act for your state and have a read

[INSINR8R]

I'm glad to see that a few members on here are in the Security industry.

In WA, we are governed by the WA Police Force and an subsidurey called the Commercial Agents. Our licensing system has been in effect since 1996 so the police could keep track of all current security officers.

The only thing I disagree with is this quote:

If a person doesn't get hit, then they are doing their job properly.

I've been working at the same company for the last 14 months (same amount of time I have held a Security/Crowd Controller's license) and have been working at the same nightclub every weekend for 10 months. In that time I've had my fair share of punch ups, and in those cases, I've tried to walk away after resolving the situation.

If someone is pissed off enough, just trying to talk to them doesn't really help. There was one incident where I had to evict a guy for flooring another guy over something that happened 6 months prior. I took him through the back and calmly told him that his behaviour resulted in his eviction. He was fine with that, until I escorted him to the top of the underground car park. Thats when he started throwing punches. Fortunately for me I can take several hits, but unfortunately for him, he only took 1.

As for not being able to bring alcohol onto a licensed premesis, you cant even bring outside soft drinks or water. Mainly because you could've filled it with alcohol, or something that could be harmful to other patrons. As far as I know, every state has the same laws on that.

[pro_gmh]

Me and my mate almost got on the wrong side of a bouncer once.
I had parked my car down an ally behind a nightclub, once i tried to get in and failed because of my age, i went and found fun somewhere else. I once had enough and let my mate take me and my car home and the bouncer wouldnt let us down the ally to my car.
And as we explained my car was down there etc, he wasnt believing us and giving us attitude, anyway some stranger ended up vouching for us and telling the bouncer i did actually park down in the ally.
We were a few sentences away from gettin in a arugment where what would of turned ugly, We decided to stay in the city and we eventually caught a taxi and picked my car up in the morn.


dribble/rant, i was bored.