Is it necessary to grade security firms?

This week, the Security Association Singapore came out swinging at the Government’s latest assessment of security firms, saying that "shifting goalposts" gave the misimpression that the companies had not improved. The association said there was an urgent need to change the criteria and methodology of the grading system, because it has arbitrary cut-off points based on a bell curve.

In response, the Government said the criteria for the grading exercise were transparent and known to all agencies. Firms said they poured tens of thousands into upgrading systems and training guards, but were downgraded because of changes to the grading system.

Many of TODAY’s readers questioned the need to grade the firms, since competence boiled down to individual guards. Others stood up for the grading system.

Grading does nothing to the type of security you have. Notice that it is all about the individuals working the ground. You can have a C grade, but that is OK if your guards have the right attitude and smarts. ONG WES 

It is more effective if guards are rated rather than agencies on the whole. Ultimately, safety depends on the vigilance of the guards. I bet people are willing to pay more for better-graded guards than better-rated companies. And it is false to believe that companies with higher grades have better guards. The security industry is lacking people and companies grab whoever they can from Malaysia. FRANK YOUNG

All agencies are the same. Do not waste time grading them. Security officers hop from agency to agency. SILVESTER CHUA

Using a bell curve is something I have always disagreed with. It means that someone must fail even if everyone did well on the whole. It is the stupidest way to grade any system or anyone. JON GOH

Why do you need to spell out the percentage for grade A and so on? It looks as though you are appraising your employee. PETER CHAN

People at the top do not understand how businesses are struggling. Businesses that invest heavily do not necessarily earn enough to sustain themselves. FONG MAGGIE

Only security agencies with deep pockets or government-linked ones will be able to keep pace with upgrading their systems and staff to fulfil the ever-changing criteria for security-related jobs. AMK FONG

It is the same low-paying job that entails insults from unreasonable people. Yet the agencies need to be graded. We are going in the opposite direction. MOHD KASSIM 

Doing business is tough with the uncertainties. WONG YETKHIN

A grading system is good if it is transparent and not manipulated. WILLIAM TAN 

There are two things that you cannot avoid in life: Time and change. How you spend your time and manage change is crucial to growing your business. Planning! Training staff and upgrading equipment are critical. So stop blaming others. You do not need to be a scholar to know that. BERNARD SOH

A few years ago, a friend went on a business trip, leaving his wife and kids at home. One day, his wife heard noise coming from their window and freaked out when an intruder climbed in. It was their new security guard. Thank goodness he fled instead of doing harm. The standard of guards is pretty haphazard. I cannot blame them because the industry is tight as a result of so many new condominiums and businesses requiring security. Balancing this demand for the service with a supply of quality guards is going to need a lot of work. WENDII LAM 

These comments were first posted on TODAY’s Facebook page. They have been edited for clarity, accuracy and length.