Belgian Security Guard General Attest study guide
Belgian Security Guard General Attest · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Belgian security guard general attest (attestation générale de gardien de sécurité / algemeen attest van bewakingsagent) is the entry-level credential that private security agents in Belgium are expected to hold before performing guarding, surveillance or access-control duties. It is aimed at newcomers to the sector as well as at people changing careers, and it is typically pursued alongside the sector-specific training and screening steps that the competent authorities require. The Belgian Security Guard General Attest study guide has 10 sections and about 3,388 words.
01The Belgian legal framework for private security
Private security in Belgium is regulated primarily by the Law of 2 October 2017 on private security and its implementing royal decrees, supervised by the Federal Public Service Interior and the Directorate for Private Security. Understand the licensed activities (guarding, mobile surveillance, cash-in-transit, security consultancy, alarm systems, event security, shop guarding, private investigation, training) and the principle of prior authorisation : an undertaking must hold a licence, and each guard must hold an identity card issued after screening.
361 words, about 2 min02Deontology and professional ethics
Deontology is the set of duties a security officer owes to the public, the client, and the profession. In Belgium the code of ethics for private security emphasises integrity, discretion (professional secrecy), impartiality, courtesy, and proportionality .
330 words, about 2 min03Criminal law and criminal procedure basics
You need the architecture of Belgian criminal law: the offence requires a legal basis, a material element (actus reus), and a moral element (mens rea - intention or negligence). Know the distinction between crimes (misdaad/infraction), delicts and contraventions (the tripartite classification), and the notions of attempt , complicity , and justification grounds (self-defence, necessity, lawful authority, consent where valid).
344 words, about 2 min04Civil law and liability
Civil liability determines who pays for damage. Distinguish contractual liability (breach of the security contract with the client) from extra-contractual/tort liability (Article 1382 old Civil Code / Book 6 new Civil Code: fault, damage, causal link).
343 words, about 2 min05Fundamental rights and the use of force
Fundamental rights bind everyone, including private guards, through the horizontal effect of rights and through specific legislation. The relevant rights: right to liberty and security (no arbitrary detention), privacy (Article 22 Constitution, Article 8 ECHR - covers body searches, filming, data), inviolability of the home (Article 15 Constitution - a guard cannot enter a private dwelling without consent or legal authority), freedom of movement , non-discrimination , and presumption of innocence .
343 words, about 2 min06Observation, reporting and communication
Observation is a professional skill: systematic, objective, complete, and contemporaneous . Use the classic grid: what, who, where, when, how, and what happened next .
347 words, about 2 min07Conflict management and aggression handling
Conflict management rests on de-escalation . Understand the escalation curve (frustration → verbal aggression → physical aggression) and intervene early at the verbal stage.
348 words, about 2 min08Safety, fire prevention and emergency response
Safety is preventive and procedural. Know the fire triangle (fuel, oxygen, heat) and the fire classes (A solids, B liquids, C gases, D metals, F cooking oils) with the matching extinguishers (water, foam, CO2, powder).
330 words, about 2 min09First aid and basic life support
First aid in Belgium follows the ABCDE approach (Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure) and the basic life support sequence for adults: check safety, check responsiveness, call 112, open the airway, check breathing for up to 10 seconds, and if not breathing normally, start chest compressions at 100–120 per minute, depth 5–6 cm, with a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio if trained, or compression-only if not. Use an AED as soon as available: attach pads, follow voice prompts, do not touch the casualty during analysis or shock.
339 words, about 2 min10Access control, surveillance technology and workplace procedures
Access control is the practical application of the site's security policy. Know the levels : identification, verification, authorisation, and recording.
303 words, about 2 min