Safety First: Giving Our Female Employees a Sense of Security

Female members of Heritage being guided on the importance of personal safety

Heritage female employees receiving practical training in self defence

Bevin Lewis of Heritage Corporate Security shares knowledge with workshop attendees on safety awareness.

WE LIVE IN DANGEROUS TIMES.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) reported a 140% increase in violent cases in 2020 compared to 2019. Many articles and stories on television and social media display that a significant percentage of these violent crimes are directed at women. Women continue to be victimised at home, work, schools, gyms, and even in their cars, making it extremely difficult to feel safe.

It is in this context that our Corporate Security Department hosted a series of security awareness workshops for female employees, to provide them with the tools necessary to protect themselves. The workshops focused on empowering females by developing their confidence in physical resistance skills, making them feel more capable in potentially dangerous situations. The first session was held on August 22, 2022 at the Penal Sports Club, with four subsequent workshops being held between September and November 2022.

Seventy-five female employees were exposed to selfdefence tactics, body weapons and disengagement. Some topics covered in the workshop included managing high-stress situations, conflict deescalation, diffusion tools and tactics along with the art of observation and spatial awareness. The Corporate Security Department thanks everyone who contributed to the success of this workshop and looks forward to hosting timely and relevant workshops in 2023.