BC Basic Security (BST) cheat sheet

Private security in BC is regulated by the provincial Security Services Act, while criminal law is federal under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Security Programs Division of the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General administers security licensing.

A security business licence and individual security worker licences are separate authorizations under the Security Services Act.

Basic Security Training (BST) is the entry-level training requirement for BC security workers before licensing.

Security guards are not peace officers and do not have police powers of arrest, search, or detention.

Security roles include deterrence, observation, reporting, patrol, access control, emergency response, and loss prevention.

The security industry includes guard services, private investigation, alarm monitoring, locksmithing, and security consulting.

Criminal law in Canada is federal; the Criminal Code applies in every province and territory.

Actus reus is the prohibited act or omission; mens rea is the guilty state of mind; both are required for most criminal offences.

Offences are classified as summary conviction, indictable, or hybrid; a hybrid offence may proceed either way.

Criminal Code s.494 permits a citizen’s arrest when a person is found committing an indictable offence, or when there are reasonable grounds to believe the person committed an offence and is escaping.

A person arrested by a citizen must be delivered to a peace officer without delay.

Charter s.9 prohibits arbitrary detention; Charter s.10 provides rights on arrest or detention, including reasons and access to counsel.

Criminal Code s.34 covers self-defence, s.35 covers defence of property, and s.25 covers use of force by persons enforcing the law.

Theft is fraudulent taking of property without colour of right; assault is intentional application of force without consent.

The BC Security Services Act regulates security businesses and security workers, including licensing and conduct requirements.

Security worker licence categories are set by regulation and include security guard, private investigator, and other authorized categories.

The BC Trespass Act allows an occupier to require a person to leave premises; failing to leave after notice is trespass.

The BC Occupiers Liability Act sets an occupier’s duty of care to persons on the premises.

BC’s Privacy Act creates a civil tort of invasion of privacy; PIPA governs personal information handling by private organizations.

The Liquor Control and Licensing Act regulates licensed premises, and security must follow the terms of the licence.

The Mental Health Act allows police and physicians to apprehend persons at risk; security guards are not police.

The Child, Family and Community Service Act creates a duty to report suspected child abuse to the Ministry.

Civil law resolves disputes between private parties; the standard of proof is a balance of probabilities.

Negligence requires duty of care, breach of the standard of care, causation, and damages.

Intentional torts include assault, battery, false imprisonment, and trespass.

False imprisonment requires intentional confinement without lawful authority, with the person aware of confinement or harmed.

Vicarious liability can make an employer liable for employee acts committed within the scope of employment.

The Occupiers Liability Act imposes a duty to take reasonable care for the safety of persons on premises.

Defences to civil liability include consent, self-defence, defence of property, lawful authority, necessity, and contributory negligence.

BC’s Limitation Act sets a basic limitation period of two years from discovery and an ultimate period of 15 years.

The BC Good Samaritan Act protects a person who voluntarily provides emergency assistance from liability except for gross negligence.

Active listening includes attending, paraphrasing, reflecting, clarifying, and summarizing to confirm understanding.

Open-ended questions elicit detail; closed questions confirm specific facts.

Proxemic zones are intimate 0–45 cm, personal 45 cm–1.2 m, social 1.2–3.6 m, and public over 3.6 m.

De-escalation uses a calm tone, slow speech, non-threatening posture, maintained distance, and clear choices.

Radio communication identifies the unit, states location and situation, makes the request, and acknowledges.

Body language such as open palms and a relaxed stance can reduce perceived threat; cultural norms affect eye contact.

Conflict resolution separates parties, listens to each side, identifies interests, proposes options, and documents outcomes.

Record exact words in quotation marks and distinguish a person’s statement from the guard’s observation.

Reports must be factual, objective, chronological, complete, concise, accurate, legible, and timely.

A report includes date and time in 24-hour format, location, persons, witnesses, actions, evidence, and disposition.

Record exact words in quotation marks; distinguish observation from opinion.

Use terms such as observed, stated, and advised; avoid conclusion-style labels such as drunk or aggressive.

Correct errors with a single line, initials, and date; never erase or use correction fluid.

Notes are potential evidence; preserve original notes and disclose them if required.

Use permanent ink and mark blank spaces with N/A or a line.

The narrative answers who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Document use of force, injuries, evidence handled, police involvement, and notifications to supervisors.

The National Use of Force Framework includes officer presence, communication, physical control, intermediate weapons, and lethal force.

Force must be lawful, necessary, reasonable, and proportional; only the amount needed for a lawful purpose is permitted.

Criminal Code s.34 covers self-defence, s.35 covers defence of property, and s.25 covers use of force by persons enforcing the law.

Security guards have no special police powers; their authority comes from the property owner or occupier and citizen powers.

The reactionary gap is the distance maintained to allow time to react; the 21-foot rule describes a close-quarters threat.

De-escalation, containment, and tactical disengagement are options when safe and consistent with duty.

Use of force reporting documents the threat, options considered, force used, injuries, witnesses, and notifications.

After force is used, first aid, EMS or police contact, evidence preservation, and supervisor notification are required.

Weapons and restraints are restricted by regulation and employer policy.

RACE means Rescue, Alarm, Contain, and Extinguish or Evacuate.

PASS means Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side.

Fire classes are A ordinary combustibles, B flammable liquids, C electrical, D metals, and K cooking oils.

Evacuation uses stairs, not elevators; stay low under smoke and check doors for heat before opening.

The assembly area is used to account for persons; missing persons are reported to the fire department.

On fire alarm, activate the pull station, call 911, evacuate, and do not re-enter until cleared.

Emergency scene management includes scene safety, ABCs, EMS contact, CPR at 30 compressions to 2 breaths, and AED use.

Do not fight a fire beyond the incipient stage or without training and a clear escape route.

The Workers Compensation Act and OHS Regulation are enforced by WorkSafeBC.

The three worker rights are the right to know, the right to participate, and the right to refuse unsafe work.

Employer duties include risk assessment, safe procedures, training, supervision, PPE, and incident investigation.

Worker duties include following safe procedures, using PPE, and reporting hazards and incidents.

WHMIS uses labels, safety data sheets, and training to communicate hazardous product information.

Serious incidents and injuries must be reported to WorkSafeBC, and the employer must investigate.

A joint OHS committee or worker health and safety representative is required depending on workplace size.

Workplace violence and harassment prevention requires a plan, reporting mechanism, and investigation.

Near misses are reported and investigated to prevent recurrence.

Pre-patrol preparation includes briefing, equipment check, keys, radio, log, and site information.

Patrol methods include foot, vehicle, interior, exterior, random, visible, and perimeter patrol.

Routes and times should be varied to avoid predictability.

Patrol checks include doors, windows, locks, lighting, fire exits, hazards, and unauthorized persons.

Time-stamped patrol records note abnormalities and the action taken.

Suspicious activity is observed, described, and reported; confrontation is avoided when unsafe.

Crime scene preservation means securing the area, preventing entry, avoiding evidence contact, and calling police.

Key control requires signing keys in and out, prohibiting unauthorized duplication, and reporting lost keys.

Access control layers are perimeter, exterior, interior, and asset.

Identity and authorization must be verified before access is granted.

Visitor management includes sign-in, badge issue, escort, and sign-out.

The least privilege principle grants only the minimum access needed for the task.

Tailgating or piggybacking is prevented by one-person entry and challenging unbadged persons.

Access cards and keys are unique, deactivated when lost, and tracked by audit logs.

Two-factor authentication combines something you know, something you have, or something you are.

Contractors require authorization and escort according to policy.

Access control records are confidential and retained according to policy.

Shrinkage sources include employee theft, shoplifting, vendor fraud, and administrative error.

The loss prevention cycle is deter, prevent, detect, investigate, and recover.

Theft requires taking property, without colour of right, with intent to deprive.

Shoplifting indicators include concealment, unusual behaviour, group distraction, and exit without payment.

Apprehension requires lawful grounds, safety, and policy compliance; police are called when required.

Evidence must be preserved, documented with chain of custody, and handled minimally.

Inventory controls include counts, audits, POS exception reports, and receiving checks.

Employee theft indicators include unexplained voids, refunds, discounts, and cash shortages.

Civil liability and criminal charges are separate; restitution does not erase criminal liability.