BC Advanced Security (AST) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Security Services Act

BC statute that licenses security workers and businesses, sets qualifications, and authorizes the Registrar to impose conditions or discipline.

Citizen's arrest authority

Criminal Code s.494 lets any person arrest someone found committing an offence or reasonably believed to have committed one and escaping, then deliver them to police without delay.

Criminal Code s.25

Protects a person acting under authority, such as a property owner's delegated authority, who uses no more force than is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances.

Trespass Act authority

BC law lets an occupier or authorized person ask a trespasser to leave and use reasonable force only if the trespasser refuses to comply.

Charter applies to security?

Private security is generally not bound by the Charter unless it is acting as an agent of the state or performing a government function.

Necessary force

Force is justified only when it is required to achieve a lawful purpose and no less forceful option is reasonably available in the circumstances.

Proportionality

The level of force used must match the threat and seriousness of the situation, and must be reduced or stopped as the threat decreases.

Force options continuum

A non-linear range of responses from presence and verbal direction through empty-hand control, intermediate weapons, and lethal force; officers choose based on threat.

Positional asphyxia

A potentially fatal breathing restriction caused by body position, especially prolonged prone restraint or pressure on the back, neck, or chest.

Handcuff double-lock

A safety step that prevents handcuffs from tightening further; the cuff should be checked for fit and circulation after application.

Recovery position

A side-lying position used after restraint or when a person is unresponsive but breathing, helping keep the airway open and reduce aspiration risk.

Risk formula

Risk is commonly assessed as likelihood multiplied by consequence, so a low-probability event with severe impact can still rank as high risk.

Dynamic risk assessment

A continuous cycle of identifying hazards, assessing likelihood and impact, applying controls, and reviewing as conditions change during an incident.

Hierarchy of controls

A ranking of risk controls from elimination and substitution through engineering, administrative measures, and personal protective equipment as the least effective.

Pre-incident indicators

Observable cues such as surveillance, unusual interest, agitation, weapons, or crowd buildup that suggest a higher chance of violence or disruption.

Behavioural cluster

Multiple indicators occurring together, such as pacing, clenched fists, and verbal threats, generally raise risk more than any single indicator alone.

Scene safety priority

Before assisting anyone, a security worker assesses hazards and requests police or medical support; an unsafe scene can create additional victims.

Incident report elements

A factual account covering who, what, when, where, why, and how, including witnesses, injuries, actions taken, and evidence preserved.

Chain of custody

A documented record of who handled evidence, when, where, and for what purpose, used to show that evidence was not altered or contaminated.

Use of force report

A supplementary written account of the reason for force, options considered, force applied, injuries, medical aid, and witnesses.

Objective note-taking

Recording observable facts, direct quotes, times, and locations rather than opinions, assumptions, or conclusions about a person's character.

CCTV preservation

Saving relevant video promptly, before automatic overwrite, and documenting the export, time range, and person who copied it.

Confidentiality duty

A security worker shares client or personal information only with consent, as required by law, or with those who need it to perform duties.

Conflict of interest

A personal, financial, or familial interest that could improperly influence a security worker's judgment; it must be avoided or disclosed.

Licence identification

A security worker must carry the required BC security licence and produce it on request; uniforms must not resemble police uniforms.

Non-discrimination

Providing equal service without biased treatment based on protected grounds such as race, sex, disability, religion, or sexual orientation.

Scope of practice

The duties a security worker is trained and licensed to perform; acting outside that scope can endanger safety and lead to licensing consequences.

Tactical communication

A structured verbal approach that identifies the speaker, explains the reason for contact, gives clear directions, and offers non-threatening choices.

Active listening

A communication technique using paraphrasing, open questions, and acknowledgment of feelings to confirm understanding and reduce defensiveness.

Reactionary gap

The distance a security worker keeps to allow time to react to a sudden attack; it increases when weapons or hostility are suspected.

Contact and cover

A two-person tactic where one worker communicates or controls while the other watches for threats and supports, with agreed roles.

Radio protocol

Clear, concise transmissions that identify the unit, location, nature of the incident, and resources needed, avoiding unnecessary codes.