InterviewBeside the plaqueunveiled by QueenElizabeth II theprevious day, SIAbadgedsecurity officersAgnieszka Wojcik,Katarzyna Wiktor,Joanna Gorbaczewskaand Itohan Omorogbe-MomoduPhoto by Mark RoweEvery day a challengeThe royal plaque atone of the hospital’sentrancesRoyal background52HAPPY‘It <strong>is</strong> a myth that therehas been a proliferationof shops selling alcohol- there are now feweroff licences per head ofpopulation than therewere a decade ago.’Association ofConvenience StoresChief Executive JamesLowman.One day the Queen does officialopening honours, the next dayProfessional Security v<strong>is</strong>its to hearabout Royal London Hospital <strong>is</strong>seeking to recruit more femalesecurity officers. Mark Rowe hearsfrom some of them, and others atthe giant Whitechapel hospital.Itohan Omorogbe-Momodu cameto Royal London from workin retail; Kathrzyna Wiktorsimilarly from a shopping centre.Joanna Gorbaczewska was workingon building site security for Skanska,the company that has built the newRoyal London, besides working atpubs and clubs. Agnieszka Wojcikworked previously at the Olympicsand Paralympics – ‘it was a reallygood experience’ – and in the securityresponse team at Chelsea FootballClub. The women in the securitya commentary on how far privatesecurity (and related occupations)have to go to bring in more womenin front-line work. Not only at RoyalLondon, not only in healthcare, butgenerally, security managers havesaid for years that they would likedo things that men cannot, or not asstraightforwardly, such as search oreject women, and because women cando security jobs – part of the servicesector, after all - just as well as men.Women are not men, but security<strong>is</strong> security; the women securitypatrollers do the same as the men,and wear the same uniform (blacktrousers, shoes) and kit (anti-stabvests, though women have a differentshape). From talking to the women,APRIL 2013 PROFESSIONAL SECURITYand accompanying one on a tourof the hospital, the demands of thejob, for man or woman, are plain;and some advantages from simplybeing a woman patroller rather thana man. The 12-hour shifts are twodays, two nights, then four days off;and between the days and nights, 24hours off. Every day <strong>is</strong> a challenge,the women agree; the answering ofstabbings; shootings. “Sometimespatients are making trouble so wehave to go up to the wards andcalm down the situation,” Joannasays. “There’s always something,”Kathrzyna agrees. But then Royalhave some 190,000 v<strong>is</strong>its a year; ithas one of the largest maternity wardsin the city. Besides serving the eastEnd of London, it’s a landing placefor the city’s air ambulance. For everypatient (including children) comingin and out at all hours you may haveupset relatives and friends.Medical reasonsAs in any hospital, patients maybe aggressive or violent not out ofmalice but for medical reasons, asthe overall NHS stat<strong>is</strong>tics suggest,featured in the January <strong>is</strong>sue ofProfessional Security. How to calmsomeone, whether they are under theor are angry? Itohan Omorogbe-Momodu says: “First and foremost,when you are called to deal witha situation, you have to assess thesituation, and talk to the person,politely, like any customer that comesin. That’s what I do, most of the time.The person might be very aggressive,maybe because he or she has beengiven medication or has been talkedto in a way she doesn’t like. I have tocalm down the situation, reassure theperson, and most of the time it doeswork; they will calm down and sayok, I am all right, so we don’t have aneed for restraint or trying to do otherthings.”ShiftsThe morning shift unlocks thecontrol all the doors, letting people inand out, meaning more responsibilityoperators. The Royal London has1350 cameras, a HD IP system, anda neat and well-laid out control roomthat also holds keys. As elsewherein London, nights can be busierthan days; and Friday night <strong>is</strong> thebusiest. What of the day-night shiftpattern? Itohan Omorogbe-Momodusays: “For me, it doesn’t make anygo from morning to evenings; youhave a lot of time to recuperatethe next day, you go to sleep andhave one more night; so for me it<strong>is</strong>n’t an <strong>is</strong>sue at all.” “I can say thesame,” Agnieszka Wojcik adds. It’sinteresting that the appreciation of awith female v<strong>is</strong>itors and patients, buttakes in the staff, whether nurses,reception<strong>is</strong>ts or porters. Royala female imam; the hospital <strong>is</strong> ina largely Bengali neighbourhood.Joanna says: “When we see eachwww.professionalsecurity.co.uk
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