Pan African Security Company Warrior Security has invested in the
recruitment of women in security and managerial positions in a bid to
create diversity in its workforce and provide more jobs for women, at a
time when security studies show women achieve similar results when
responding to violent crime situations, are less likely to engage in
unprofessional behaviour,have just as good attendance records as men, and
are respected just as much as men by citizens.
In Tanzania, where the company has gained a solid foot hold, the company
gives priority to locals in employment, with the number of women taking up
security guards roles now reaching new highs, dispelling the myth that such
jobs are exclusively for men.Even with a dozen more security companies
having set up shop in the country, Warrior Security is the only company
that has invested in recruiting women as guards and in managerial positions.
Warrior is the leading security provider in Northern Tanzania. The company
maintains a state of the art control room in Arusha monitoring and
coordinating response to guards, alarms, CCTV and vehicles all over
Tanzania. Through the installation of the Power Track Fleet Management and
Vehicle Recovery System, Warrior’s reach extends throughout East Africa and
as far as Zambia, Malawi and the DRC.
The security company currently employs 2000 guards and will employ at least
4000 Tanzanian citizens by July 2014, among them women. “There is always a
requirement for a number of women guards, especially where there is a
personal search requirement for access control. However, we have also noted
that Tanzanian women guards are very effective security officers and bring
a different ‘eye’ to the role of Security Officer,” said Mike Liddicoat,
Deputy Country Manager Warrior Security.
“We also felt it was important to provide employment opportunities for
women in South Sudan where there are so few opportunities for women,” he
said.
Since inception, Warrior Security has had positive feedback from its female
guards across Africa and has been proud to encourage women into its growing
workforce, and is now actively seeking to raise the numbers. It is the
proactive and swift response of the female guards that proves the important
role of women guards in averting crisis and attending to security breaches.
Mirium Wilfred Samwel, one such guard who works at The Arusha Hotel,
detained a member of the hotel staff attempting to steal milk from the
kitchens. Janet Seemani, another guard manning Dekker Bruins, was commended
recently for preventing the theft of client property.
According to John Davies, Warrior Security Group Quality Assurance & HSE
Manager, Warrior Security has some ‘In Charge’ and ‘Senior’ women guards in
South Sudan. There are also two female guards who have risen to
administrative roles in the office. “Female guards are particularly popular
with diplomatic and NGO assignments who embrace diversity and employ them,”
he said.
Mr Davies said it was also essential to have female guards at clients’
access control points when female staff and visitors require
searching.“Female guards have proven to be efficient and often display
great courage in performing their duties, in what is definitely a male
dominated industry,” he said.
Warrior security is based on a philosophy of equal opportunities as an
employer. “In most instances, they are more than capable, normally they get
the highest scores during training, and, on the ground, they are, in many
instances, more effective than the men. We train men and women on the same
training courses, there is no difference,” said Mr.Liddicott.
Warrior’s Security training course combines both classroom and practical
exercises covering a diverse range of subjects for both sexes that include
general security theory, report writing, access control, patrolling,
criminology, search techniques, fire fighting, public and customer
relations, among others