Okaz/Saudi Gazette RIYADH — About 300 Saudi women currently working at prisons and other security installations have completed intensive training in self defense. They have been taught 15 tactics in self defense, crowd control and overpowering armed enemies. Okaz/Saudi Gazette attended the program at the Training and Capacity Development Center for Women in the General General Directorate of Prisons in Riyadh. Female security officers are given short and long-term courses to develop their military skills and tactics and enhance their efficiency. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette, the participants said training was given to help female cadets to carry out their security duties efficiently, adding that security duties would not affect their family responsibilities as wives, mothers and in charge of home affairs. Maytha Al-Shammari, a military trainer and in charge of research and studies, said the 15 important moves learned by the officers would enable them to save themselves from enemy attacks. "They are also trained on conducting inspections and finding out various types of narcotics using modern technology while dealing with smugglers," she said. Al-Shammari said it is the duty of jail wardens to inform prisoners about their rights and duties including mental and medical treatment. Before inspecting inmates, the officer should read out prison rules. Inmates should be informed that punitive action would be taken against them after investigation if they hide prohibited things such as drugs. There are more than 500 female security officers at 13 prisons across the Kingdom. Some of them have reached the rank of sergeant. According to the bylaw, they have to take part in field work when required, ensure security and accompany prisoners to courts and hospitals. The Directorate of Prisons intends to provide special training to all female officers to improve their skills to carry out their duties efficiently. "We conduct studies on inmates," she said, adding that researchers should follow the required standard to make their works acceptable. Al-Shammari presented her thesis for the master's degree after 15 years work in prisons as a social researcher. "The role of training programs in improving performance of female workers at prisons," was the title of her thesis. Maha Al-Dossari, director of the Training and Capacity Development Center for Women and an authorized trainer, said the center provides security and civilian training to female officers. "Each one of these training courses has three levels: primary, qualifying and specialized levels. The first course is given to beginners while the last one to leaders," she explained. Long-term training courses are given on prison activities, interior security, protection of prisoners, self defense, crowd control, how to deal with violent crowd, rapid intervention, security principles, military culture and capacity development. "Some courses target all officers who work in the security field including social researchers, security and safety officials and warehouse supervisors," Al-Dossari told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. "Our center is prepared to provide all types of training to female officers of the interior Ministry." The center has conducted a number of courses for female officers of the customs and anti-drug department, she said. Female officers are also taught technical security words in English, and how to deal with visiting foreign delegations and relatives of foreign prisoners. Female officers are also trained to prepare a plan to reform prisoners so that they would return to society as good citizens. It will also reduce crime rates in society. Lulwa Al-Bawardi, manager of public relations and media at the center, emphasized the significance of research works in reducing crime rates. "We also participate in dialogue forums to enhance public awareness and exchange ideas and expertise. We also promote prevent measures to eradicate crimes. We organize lectures and conferences and take part in specialized seminars." Sara Al-Jaleel, in charge of training programs, said the center has given training to 50 percent of female officers working at prisons. "All our programs focus on physical fitness, self defense and how to deal with foreign prisoners and how to look for prohibited things. We also follow up the impact of training on the performance of officers," she added. Hind Al-Sufyan, in charge of training for civilian officials, said the center has conducted 34 courses to train 532 civilian officials, adding that they focused on how to conduct social research, security interviews and understand the mentality of inmates as well as capacity development, computer science and English language.
