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Men in Black
DEREK FORD
Victoria Security Services and the problem with private police
By Jason Youmans
Asked about allegations that his company to do stupid shit when they’re around a uni-
VSS Hits Home
DEREK FORD
bullies particular individuals, Graff replied, form presence, and it’s the absolute truth—
“All I’ve really got to say to that is that the especially when they’re looking at a uniform When Monday sent local
chances of them complaining because they’re that looks very similar to the police. It deters freelance photographer Derek
the people that we’re dealing with, and because a lot more than just having the typical black- Ford out to snap some pictures
they’re maybe doing something wrong, might trouser, white-shirt security guard standing of VSS guards in action late
be the largest factor in that.” there.” on a Thursday night, we didn’t
Could be, but their complaints aren’t the In addition to police problems with the anticipate that he would become
only issues dogging the company. uniform, VSS has also been disciplined by the a character in our story. Nor did
security industry and licensing division. In Ford expect to discover the truth
Bending and breaking November 2009, Graff was slapped with two
fines under Section 20 of the Security Services
behind rumours about the VSS
brand of diplomacy. 30 seconds before Derek Ford meets
While the City, local police and the prov- Act for “Business employ or engage unlicensed Ford had shot several photos— Victoria Security Services
ince’s Security Industry and Licensing division individual,” for a total bill of $1,150. careful to obscure the face—of
appear to tacitly condone Victoria Security Graff claims the fines were issued because of a VSS guard in front of Second
Service’s methods, that doesn’t mean the com- an administrative error on his part. Two train- Slice Pizza when he decided to turn
pany has escaped scrutiny by the authorities. ees, he says, allowed their 90-day probation- his lens on Jason Graff and another VSS guard exiting the Douglas Street McDonald’s—
Soon after VSS was formed, the Victoria ary licenses to lapse, and when the Security where VSS operates what Graff calls a “business-use facility” on the second floor—and
police called Graff in for a meeting to demand Industry and Licensing Branch reviewed its climbing into their company car. Graff then got out of the vehicle and approached Ford to
changes to the VSS uniform, lest the gen- records it found them to be working the ask why he was taking pictures of his employees. Ford withheld his affiliation with Monday
eral public mistake them for a government street, but out of compliance. as Graff explained that he didn’t want Ford taking photos there, citing the “safety and secu-
agency. “They were going through our records and rity risk to the staff members at our client location.”
“We had patches that had Victoria Security they came across that, and we admitted it and Ford, meanwhile, tried to explain that he was on public land, could point his lens where
Services, but it had Victoria written across the we got dinged for it, which is understandable, he pleased and then tried to leave the scene.
top of the crest, and we ended up changing because we were in the wrong,” says Graff. “I proceeded to try to go up the street and he stood in my way,” says Ford. “I said, ‘You
our logos to a circular logo,” says Graff. The “But since that time we’ve certainly stepped know, I’d like to go past you,’ and he said, ‘Fine, you can go past me,’ and again he stood
originals, one would presume, might consti- up our hiring process and double-checked our in my way and made a comment like, ‘Stop taking our photographs or I’ll grab your camera
tute a violation of Security Services Act regu- records to make sure that these guys do have and delete the pictures myself,’ and I said ‘No, you’re not going to do that.’ Then he said
lation 12 (3) which states, “A security worker licenses and get copies and document that all he’d call the police and have them sort it out and I said, ‘By all means, please do.’
licensee must not, while engaged in security and have that all.” As Graff turned to leave, Ford says he continued snapping photos, and that’s when
work . . . wear a uniform that resembles a However, a former VSS employee, who things went haywire.
uniform used by police officers.” cannot be named due to an ongoing wage “He came up to me and put a choke-hold on me,” says Ford. “A little bit of a struggle
Apparently the VicPD would also prefer dispute with the company, says using unli- ensued, and a few other people got involved, saying ‘Hey what are you doing to this guy?’
that Graff’s employees retire their entirely censed guards was par for the course during I attempted to take some photographs while he was choke-holding me, his associate
black uniforms, but on that demand, Graff is his time there. knocked my hat off, Jason released me, pushed me forward . . . his associate spat gum at
holding firm. “[VicPD] requested we change “Very few employees, aside from me, were my head. I turned around and started taking photos and his associate put his hand over the
it, but it’s a cost thing and we can’t really licensed,” he says. “Jason was very well aware lens and said ‘Take a photo of that,’ swore at me . . . and then they drove off.”
afford to change our uniform colour,” he says. and indeed did hire unlicensed employ- Jason Graff remembers the last part of the story a little differently.
“And with the governing agency, they said ‘We ees promising to get them their probation “I didn’t put him in a choke,” he says. “I pushed him away because he got right in my
approved you for your uniforms, and we stand license. He never did, and then, when he felt face. I was holding his shoulder guiding him away because he kept coming towards me.
beside you guys.’” he had used them up, he would fire them and He’s invading my personal space, so I have the right to defend myself. It’s a simple fact.”
Besides, says Graff, adopting a paramilitary rehire new employees and repeat the process.” But why, Monday asked Graff, should it matter if someone takes their picture while
appearance is part of carrying out their job And then there is the matter of the Victoria they’re out on patrol?
effectively. Security Service’s patrol car, which, as recently “Our job is a very dangerous job to say the least, and when we question our safety,
“The idea there is that if you’re walking as January 15, was photographed without any there’s an issue there and the cops will back us up on that side,” he says. “That definitely
down the street, and for instance someone is of the markings required under Section 10 trespasses into our safety side of it, personally.”
up to no good and they’re tagging a property, (4) of the SSA, and features a push bumper, But in a line of work where “observe and report,” has always been the name of
or thinking of committing a crime, they see which police typically use to nudge fleeing the game, the job is only as dangerous as Graff and his colleagues try to make it.
that uniform presence and it deters them vehicles off the road.
right there,” says Graff. “People don’t want Graff says the company had the registrar’s — J.Y.