Union of Security Employees condemns any form of abuse of security officers

Singapore— A video clip of a man shouting at a hapless security guard who was merely doing his job circulated over social media over the weekend, with calls for an investigation into the man’s actions, specifically from his employer.

The Union of Security Employees (USE) and two security agency associations condemned the man’s rash behaviour.

Press reports say USE has issued memos regarding proper respect to security personnel who are simply carrying the duties assigned to them.

According to Raymond Chin, the USE’s secretary-general, “While we empathise with the resident on his unhappiness with the rules of the estate, his right of recourse should be through his management committee.

We strongly condemn any form of abuse of our security officers… The union stands united with our officers.”

In a Facebook post, the USE said the abused security officer made a police report regarding the incident.

The video shows the man, who had been told that his visitors were required to pay a parking fee at Whampoa condominium, screaming at the security guard, who were charging his guests a $10 parking fee.

The security officer told him calmly, “We are just enforcing the rules here.”

The video went viral over social media and was viewed and shared thousands of times, prompting calls for global financial services company JP Morgan to look into the matter.

JP Morgan, the employer of the man, told The Straits Times (ST) on Sunday, October 27, that they know about the video with their angry employee and that an investigation is ongoing.

https://www.facebook.com/joinUSE/posts/2945034148857938

“The Union of Security Employees (USE) was alerted to an incident of abuse of security officers at a condominium site near Boon Keng MRT station in the morning of 26th October 2019.

We informed our network of security officers of the incident, and a police report has been made. Many officers have responded overwhelmingly, and have helped to carry the message for the public not to abuse security officers further.

The officers on site were able to operate with restraint and remained calm throughout the incident. Whilst we empathise with the resident on his unhappiness with the rules of the estate, his right of recourse should be through his management committee. The security officers are merely executing the requests of the committee.

We strongly condemn any form of abuse of our security officers. We encourage our officers to report any abuse they experience or witness to the union. USE operates a mediation centre to serve our officers, amongst other issues, to take action where abuse happens. We have also been conducting ground outreach and handed out decals and notices about respecting security officers when they are executing their job roles.

The union stands united with our officers.

Thanks,

Raymond Chin, General Secretary, Union of Security Employees

The man in the video attempted to clarify his side on the closed Facebook group of Eight Riversuites Resident Singapore.

He wrote, “The security was bullying my visitor and questioning what time they are going to leave.

In what capacity the security can decide on what time my visitor should leave. He was not allowing my visitor to enter when the time of entry was 10:30 pm and not even 11.

When I went down I asked the security to give me the receipt and I will deal with the management but he insisted to pay.

Again in what capacity he must ask me to pay when I myself dosnt (sic) know that time my visitor would leave.

The security was smart to take a video and share it in all social media forums. I have received more that (sic) 200 threatening calls since morning and they have also shared my unit number. I am threatned (sic) by the same security (sic) which (sic) are supposed to protect me.

There goes my Deepavali and thanks to this estate.”/ TISG