Security companies decry malfunction of fingerprint machines
Lebogang Mosikare | Thursday December 17, 2015 12:12
Various speakers at the Northern Division Security Pitso that was held at Thapama Hotel yesterday noted that the machines are sometimes out of service, thereby affecting their hiring, as clearance is needed to sieve out those with criminal records.
The Pitso was called by the police to solicit ideas from security companies on how to effectively fight crime, which is usually high during the festive season.
Wabo Masole of Kadesh Security said that for security services to carry out their mandate effectively and properly, there is a need to hire people with no criminal records.
Masole noted that the malfunction of fingerprint machines has become a challenge to security companies. “Some companies end up hiring people with criminal records in order to maximise profits, especially during the festive season when there are many customers because of a lack of functioning fingerprints machines,” he said. Ndiye Batlhagodi of Wildmax Security shared Masole’s sentiments. He pleaded with the police to service their fingerprints machines so as to help security companies not to hire criminals, who may be tempted to steal from the very premises they are manning.
Former Station Commander of Kutlwano police Letsholathebe Mothibi, who now owns a security services company, advised colleagues to share information about people they employ in order to guard against hiring thieves.
“We should share information about guards because if we do not do so, we risk employing criminals which may affect the image and credibility of our companies. We should also give our guards adequate training for them to work according to clients and society’s expectations,” said Mothibi.
Mothibi’s call was readily accepted with other speakers urging security companies to keep records of their former employees and readily share them with others during the hiring purposes. They also implored their colleagues to work hand in hand with the police to defeat criminals who are always finding new ways of defeating the law. The Divisional Commander North Dinah Marathe, said it is the police duty to see to it that fingerprints machines are always operational.
She said that the machines are sometimes out of service due to technological problems and not deliberately as some people think.
“I take it upon myself to inform my officers to tell you about machines that are in service at our various police stations in order to save your time moving from one police station to the other looking for machines which are functioning. In fact police officers on duty should take it upon themselves to enquire about that information on behalf of customers,” said Marathe. Marathe also advised security companies to guard against employing guards who have not been fingerprinted when police fingerprint scanners are not working because it will sometimes negatively affect the image of their companies.
“I also advise you not to hire foreigners as guards because it is illegal to do so.”