A fight that could have died earlier than it did.

My colleagues and I stumbled upon a fight today, just hours ago, at Scotts Road during lunch time. A man wearing a biker’s helmet and a security guard were fighting. As we arrived near the scene, the biker started to assault him and the two got into a very fierce struggle. When the fight moved from the corner of the Grand Hyatt to the pathway at Scotts Square, it got progressively worse. And the security guards in different uniforms at the walkway came over. But, they didn’t intervene. They just stood around them and from where we were, it seemed as though they were trying to talk the two out of the fight. However, common sense screams that talking people out of a fight should be done after they have been pulled apart.

Aren’t the guards instructed on what to do in such cases? Even then, such reactions should not need to be dictated in a book to be followed as protocol; it should be carried out on a basis of common sense. Since the guards did not budge, neither did the public. And the two continued fighting. What the hell happened here?

Was it a lapse in judgement? Or a poor showing of it? If the public did not want to get involved for fear of getting hurt, that may be a justifiable reason. But for two extra guards to just stand around and watch a fellow security guard and a civilian throw punches at each other is just plain cowardice. Granted one of the guards was in his middle age but what was the other one doing then? If they have the fear of being mildly hurt, then they should not be in such a profession.

I now wonder what the situation would have been like if it had been one of a hostage situation instead. Would they have taken the same stance? Many members attempted to come forward to help break off the two, but with the civilian squirming and struggling, it was rather difficult. Yet, given his petite size, a couple of men should have been enough to keep him still and to prevent him from further attacking the guard. Let alone the protection of the public, the two guards watching the scene did not even come forward to help one of their own. Are security guards actually instructed not to interfere with the matters of guards from a different company?

The incident was a rather disruptive one to have occurred amongst a lunchtime crowd. And with security officers at hand, it has proven to be an even more shameful incident for us all. I was unfortunately unable to save the video recording of the incident, as it was intended to be put up on STOMP for everyone to watch and learn on what NOT to do in incidents like these.

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