BC Advanced Security (AST) key terms

British Columbia's statute governing security businesses and security workers in the province. It sets who must be licensed, what conditions apply, and gives the registrar powers to investigate, impose conditions, and take disciplinary action.

A licence issued under the Security Services Act that authorizes an individual to perform security work in BC. It is subject to conditions, must be produced on request, and expires or can be suspended or cancelled.

A certificate course required in BC before a licensed guard may use force, restraining devices, or a baton on duty. It covers relevant law, use of force decision-making, and safe restraint practices.

The power under section 494 of the Criminal Code allowing any person to arrest someone found committing an indictable offence, and allowing an occupier or authorized person to arrest for a criminal offence on the property. The person must be delivered to police promptly.

A belief based on specific, objective facts that a person has committed or is committing an offence, measured against what a reasonable person would conclude from the same information. Suspicion or a hunch is not enough.

British Columbia legislation that lets an occupier or authorized person direct someone to leave private property and makes it an offence to remain after being told to leave, or to enter where entry is prohibited.

Under sections 9 and 10 of the Canadian Charter, a detained person must be told promptly why they are detained, told of the right to consult a lawyer, and not held arbitrarily. Guards must respect these rights whenever they hold someone.

The legal standard for using force: it must serve a lawful purpose, be no more than the situation requires, and be proportional to the threat and resistance faced. Force must stop once the resistance stops.

A Canadian model that organizes subject behaviour, possible officer responses, and situational factors on one diagram, helping a guard assess a situation, choose an option, and later explain why the force used was justified.

The five groupings used in the use of force model: cooperative, passive resistant, active resistant, assaultive, and causing grievous bodily harm or death. They help a guard match the response to what the person is actually doing.

Deliberate actions such as calm speech, creating distance, slowing the interaction, removing an audience, and calling for support that lower the intensity of a situation so force can be avoided or reduced.

Death or serious injury caused by a body position that prevents breathing, commonly a person held face down with weight on the back or chest. It can develop quickly and requires immediate repositioning and medical aid.

A side-lying position with the airway kept open, used after restraint or whenever a person is unresponsive. It allows breathing and drainage of vomit while the person continues to be continuously monitored.

Force that goes beyond what is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances. Section 26 of the Criminal Code removes legal protection for it, exposing the guard to criminal charges, civil claims, and licensing discipline.

A structured process of identifying hazards and threats, judging how likely each is and how severe the harm would be, and deciding which controls are needed and who is responsible for them.

The continuous, in-the-moment reassessment of risk as an incident develops. The guard keeps revising tactics, distance, and backup needs rather than relying on a plan made before the situation changed.

A grid that plots likelihood against severity of harm to produce a risk rating. It lets guards and planners rank risks consistently and decide which ones need action first.

A review of a site's weaknesses that someone could exploit, such as poor lighting, unmonitored doors, blind spots, weak procedures, or thin staffing. Results are used to prioritize security improvements.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: shaping and managing a space through natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance so that crime is harder to commit and feels riskier.

Using overlapping layers of security, such as perimeter, building access, interior zones, and procedures, so that if one layer fails another still deters, detects, or delays an intruder.

A written record prepared soon after an event covering what happened, when and where, who was involved, what was observed, and what actions were taken, written factually for the employer, police, or court.

Notes made at the time of an event or as soon afterwards as practicable, while memory is fresh. They can be used to refresh memory later and may have to be produced in court.

The documented, unbroken record of who collected, handled, and transferred an item of evidence. It shows the item is the same one and has not been altered, which is essential for court proceedings.

Writing style that records observable facts, direct quotes, and specific actions instead of guesses, personal opinions, or labels about people, so the report remains credible and useful in court.

A required written account of any force used, describing the circumstances, the options applied, why they were reasonable, injuries observed, and any medical aid or aftercare provided. It is reviewed by the employer and may be requested by the regulator.

A structured review after an incident in which those involved walk through what happened, identify what worked and what failed, and record follow-up actions, training needs, or support for staff.

Protecting a scene by securing the area, limiting access, avoiding contact with items, and recording the original condition until police or investigators take control of it.

The standards of behaviour expected of licensed security workers in BC, including acting lawfully and honestly, avoiding discrimination, and using authority properly. Breaches can lead to licensing conditions, suspension, or cancellation.

A situation where a guard's personal interest, relationship, or outside business could improperly influence how they carry out their duties. It must be disclosed to the employer and avoided or managed.

The duty to keep client, employer, and personal information private and to disclose it only as authorized by law or policy, including British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act. Gossip and casual sharing are breaches.

The obligation on a security worker to report known or suspected unlawful or unethical conduct by colleagues to a supervisor or the regulator, rather than concealing it or handling it informally.

The limits on a guard's relationships with clients and the public that keep the role focused on security duties and prevent favouritism, personal intimacy, or exploitation of the authority the position carries.

Using the powers or position of a security guard, such as detention, force, or access to information, for a purpose outside the lawful duties of the role, including intimidation, retaliation, or personal gain.

Giving full attention to a speaker, reflecting back what was heard, and asking clarifying questions. It helps the person feel understood, reduces tension, and improves the accuracy of the information gathered.

The deliberate use of a calm tone, simple and clear directions, empathy, and controlled body language to gain voluntary compliance and lower the chance of a physical confrontation.

The distance a guard keeps from a potentially violent person so there is enough time to see, decide, and react to a sudden attack. The gap is increased when weapons are suspected or risk is high.

Continuous attention to people, exits, hazards, and changes in mood or activity in the surroundings, so that a developing threat is recognized early enough to avoid, withdraw, or respond.

A two-guard tactic in which one guard deals directly with the subject while the second watches the surroundings and provides backup. Roles are agreed in advance so neither is distracted from their task.

British Columbia's Mental Health Act allows police, not security guards, to take a person to a facility for examination when they appear to have a mental disorder and pose a risk. Guards usually contain, support, and hand over.