Alberta ABST cheat sheet

Security professionals are private citizens; their authority comes from the client's property rights, contract, and legislation such as Alberta's Security Services and Investigators Act, not from peace officer status.

Core duties include observing and reporting, deterring crime, controlling access, patrolling, responding to incidents, protecting people and property, and documenting accurately.

In Alberta, a security guard must hold a valid Security Services and Investigators Act licence, be at least 18 years old, complete approved training such as ABST, and pass a criminal record check.

A guard must produce their licence when required and must not perform duties outside the licence class or the client's post orders.

Priority order in security work is life safety first, then property protection, then environmental protection; the guard's own safety is assessed before intervention.

Guards do not investigate crimes like police, do not search persons without lawful authority, and do not use force beyond what the law permits.

Professional conduct includes punctuality, uniform and appearance standards, confidentiality, non-discrimination, and following lawful post orders.

Information learned on duty may be disclosed only as authorised by law and client policy, including Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act.

Guards must report incidents promptly to supervisors and, where required, to police, and must document the notification.

Sources of Canadian law include the Constitution (including the Charter), statutes (Acts), regulations, common law, and municipal bylaws.

Hierarchy: the Constitution overrides statutes; statutes override regulations; regulations must be authorised by a statute; common law applies unless displaced by statute.

Criminal law is federal, while provinces administer justice and create provincial offences and regulatory law.

The Charter applies to government action; private security is generally not a state actor unless closely directed by police.

Criminal matters are prosecuted by the state with proof beyond a reasonable doubt; civil matters involve private disputes decided on a balance of probabilities.

Criminal liability generally requires actus reus (guilty act) plus mens rea (guilty mind), subject to regulatory offences that may not require mens rea.

Statutory interpretation uses plain meaning, legislative purpose, and Charter values.

Stare decisis means lower courts follow decisions of higher courts in the same hierarchy.

A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and reasonable doubt is the standard in criminal matters.

Criminal Code s.494 permits any person to arrest without warrant someone found committing an indictable offence, or someone believed on reasonable grounds to have committed an offence and be freshly pursued.

After a citizen's arrest, the person must be delivered forthwith to a peace officer; s.494(3) confirms the arrester is authorised by law for s.25 use-of-force purposes.

Criminal Code s.25 permits only force reasonably necessary; force likely to cause death or grievous bodily harm is permitted only to prevent death or grievous bodily harm.

Criminal Code s.26 makes excessive force an offence; s.27 permits reasonable force to prevent a criminal offence likely to cause immediate and serious injury; s.30 permits detention for a breach of the peace.

Criminal Code s.35 provides a defence of property: reasonable force may be used to prevent trespass or unlawful interference with property in one's peaceable possession.

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act is federal law governing possession, trafficking, production, and import or export of controlled substances.

The Cannabis Act sets federal rules on possession, sale, and cultivation of cannabis, while provincial rules may add restrictions.

The Youth Criminal Justice Act governs young persons aged 12 to 17 and emphasises rehabilitation, privacy, and special protections.

The Canada Evidence Act and the Charter govern evidence rules and fair process in legal proceedings.

Alberta's Security Services and Investigators Act licenses security guards, investigators, and related businesses and sets training, conduct, complaint, and enforcement rules.

The Security Services and Investigators Regulation addresses licence conditions, approved training, examinations, criminal record checks, and discipline.

The Trespass to Premises Act allows an occupier or authorised person to direct someone to leave premises and to use reasonable force to remove a person who refuses.

The Petty Trespass Act creates a provincial offence for entering or remaining on land without consent where notice is given by signs, fencing, or oral or written communication.

The Occupiers' Liability Act imposes a duty of care on occupiers toward visitors, which affects how premises are secured and maintained.

Alberta's Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act regulates sale and consumption; guards enforce site rules and report suspected provincial offences.

The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) governs private organisations' handling of personal information, including security records and CCTV footage; FOIP governs public bodies.

The Provincial Offences Procedure Act sets procedures for prosecuting provincial offences, including tickets and court appearances.

The Mental Health Act allows apprehension and examination of persons at risk; security guards generally contact police or EMS rather than act under this Act.

Trespass occurs when a person enters without consent or remains after being directed to leave; authority comes from the occupier or an authorised person.

Notice to leave may be oral, written, or posted; under the Petty Trespass Act, notice must be reasonable in the circumstances.

A citizen's arrest under s.494 Criminal Code requires finding a person committing an indictable offence, or reasonable grounds plus fresh pursuit.

A private citizen generally cannot arrest for a summary conviction offence under s.494, but may use reasonable force to prevent an offence under s.27 or to defend property under s.35.

After arrest, identify the person, restrain safely, call police, deliver the person promptly to a peace officer, and document all actions.

Use of force must be reasonable, necessary, proportional, and reassessed continuously; force stops when resistance ends.

Detention for investigation is not permitted beyond a lawful arrest or removal for trespass; duration must be kept to the minimum necessary.

A private guard generally cannot search a person; bag checks may be permitted only under lawful conditions of entry, consent, or written policy.

Arrest itself does not authorise a personal search except for weapons or evidence under lawful authority, and any search must be documented.

The communication model includes sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback, and noise; misunderstanding often results from noise, assumptions, or unclear language.

Non-verbal cues such as posture, tone, eye contact, and gestures often convey more than words and can signal escalation.

Active listening involves paraphrasing, summarising, asking open-ended questions, reflecting feelings, and not interrupting.

Proxemics describes personal space zones; standing too close increases perceived threat, so guards should maintain a respectful distance.

De-escalation uses a calm tone, slow movements, use of names, offered choices, an exit route, and avoidance of power struggles.

Objective 'I' statements and neutral language reduce defensiveness; blaming, sarcasm, and threats increase conflict.

Cross-cultural communication requires awareness of language barriers and different norms for eye contact, space, and gestures; use simple language or an interpreter.

Radio communication should be brief and clear: identify yourself, state location, situation, and needs, then confirm receipt.

When interviewing witnesses, separate them, ask who, what, when, where, and how, and record exact words in quotation marks.

A report must be accurate, factual, complete, concise, clear, legible, timely, and objective.

Reports answer who, what, when, where, why, and how, and include names, dates of birth, contact information, locations, times, actions, witnesses, and evidence handling.

Write in the first person and past tense, in chronological order, and use quotation marks for exact words spoken.

Avoid opinions, conclusions, assumptions, jargon, and speculation; distinguish what was observed from what was reported by others.

Record times from a reliable source and note the time source used.

Correct errors with a single line through the mistake, then initial and date; never erase, overwrite, or remove pages.

Keep original field notes secure and unchanged; notes and reports may be disclosed and tested in court.

Include only necessary personal information, respecting privacy legislation and client confidentiality.

Use the required incident report form, sign and date it, submit it promptly, and follow post orders for notification.

Evidence types include direct, circumstantial, physical or real, testimonial, documentary, and demonstrative evidence.

Evidence must be relevant, material, and not excluded by law; hearsay is generally inadmissible to prove the truth of a statement, subject to exceptions.

Chain of custody documents every transfer of evidence with date, time, handler, and location, showing the evidence has not been altered.

Preserve evidence by minimising handling, wearing gloves, bagging and tagging, photographing before moving, and keeping a written log.

Emergency priorities are life safety first, then incident stabilisation, property protection, and evidence preservation.

For fire, use RACE: Rescue anyone in danger, Alarm activation, Contain the fire by closing doors, and Extinguish or Evacuate.

For medical emergencies, assess scene safety, call 911, provide first aid within training, and document actions and times.

For a bomb threat, remain calm, gather details, do not touch suspicious items, evacuate if necessary, and call police.

Control the scene by setting a perimeter, logging persons entering, avoiding contamination, and briefing arriving responders.