BC Basic Security (BST) key terms

A person licensed under provincial law to protect people, property, and information through observation, deterrence, reporting, and lawful response. A guard generally has no greater legal authority than any other citizen.

The expected conduct, appearance, honesty, and ethical behaviour of security personnel, often set by the employer and the provincial regulator. Breaching them can lead to discipline or licence action.

A serious criminal offence, such as robbery or aggravated assault, that is usually tried in a higher court and can carry heavier penalties. Some offences are hybrid and may proceed either way.

A less serious criminal offence tried in provincial court, generally carrying lower maximum penalties and a shorter time limit for laying charges. Many minor theft and mischief offences fall here.

The physical element of a crime: the act, omission, or conduct that the law prohibits. It must be proven along with the mental element for most offences.

The mental element of a crime: the intent, knowledge, recklessness, or negligence required by the offence. Without it, conduct may not be criminal.

A lawful arrest made by a private person without a warrant in limited situations, such as finding someone committing an indictable offence. The person must be delivered to police promptly and force must be reasonable.

Intentionally applying force to another person without consent, or threatening by act or gesture to do so while having present ability. It can be committed without causing injury.

British Columbia legislation that regulates security businesses and security workers, requiring licensing, setting standards of conduct, and giving the regulator authority to investigate and discipline.

The provincial credential a person must hold to work as a security guard in British Columbia. It is issued after training and a criminal record check and can be suspended or revoked.

British Columbia law that lets an occupier, or an authorized agent such as a guard, tell someone to leave private property. Failing to leave after notice can lead to arrest or liability.

Failure to use the care a reasonable person would use in similar circumstances, causing foreseeable harm. A successful claim usually requires duty, breach, causation, and damage.

A legal obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid harming people who could foreseeably be affected by your actions or omissions. Guards owe it to visitors, staff, and others on site.

The principle that an employer can be held responsible for wrongful acts an employee commits during the course of employment. It encourages employers to train and supervise staff properly.

Intentionally restricting a person's freedom of movement without lawful authority or consent. Even a brief confinement can qualify, and guards can face civil and criminal consequences.

Publishing a false statement that harms another person's reputation. Spoken defamation is slander; written or recorded defamation is libel. Truth is generally a defence.

A communication technique of giving full attention, paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and summarizing to confirm understanding. It builds trust and reduces misunderstanding during interviews and complaints.

Verbal and non-verbal techniques used to lower tension and reduce the risk of violence, such as calm speech, space, empathy, and offering choices. It should be attempted before force when feasible.

Messages sent through body language, posture, facial expression, eye contact, tone, and personal space. Guards should control their own signals and read others' cues accurately.

Contemporaneous written records made during or immediately after an incident, including times, names, and observations. They support accurate reports and may be used in court.

A factual, unbiased written account that records what was seen, heard, and done without opinion, speculation, or emotional language. It should be clear, chronological, and complete.

The documented record of who handled evidence, when, where, and for what purpose, from seizure to disposal. Gaps can weaken or destroy the evidence's value in an investigation or trial.

A framework describing increasing levels of resistance and matching responses, from presence and verbal direction to physical control. Any response must be necessary, reasonable, and proportionate.

The amount of force a person is legally allowed to use in a situation, judged by what a reasonable person would consider necessary under the circumstances. It must stop when resistance stops.

The three elements needed for a fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Removing any one of them will extinguish or prevent combustion, which is the basis of firefighting methods.

A four-step method for using a portable fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep side to side. Only fight small fires with a clear escape route.

The planned movement of people out of a building during an emergency to a designated assembly point, where they are counted. Guards help direct traffic, keep routes clear, and report problems.

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, a Canada-wide system using labels, safety data sheets, and worker training to communicate hazards of controlled products. Workers must know how to find and use the information.

A worker's legal right to refuse a task they reasonably believe poses an undue hazard, after reporting the concern. The employer must investigate, and the worker may remain protected during the process.

A systematic process of identifying hazards, evaluating the likelihood and severity of harm, and choosing controls to reduce risk. It should be done before work begins and repeated when conditions change.

A planned path through an assigned area, often varied in timing and direction to avoid predictability. Guards check for hazards, security breaches, and unusual activity while documenting each stop.

An inspection of the outer boundary of a site, including doors, windows, fences, gates, lighting, and signs of forced entry. It aims to detect breaches and deter intruders.

The process of deciding who may enter or leave a site, area, or system, and under what conditions. It uses identification, authorization, logs, keys, cards, and physical barriers.

Procedures for screening, registering, badging, and escorting visitors on a site so only authorized people reach restricted areas. Good records help in emergencies and investigations.

Measures taken to reduce theft, fraud, waste, and other causes of inventory or financial loss. It includes policies, audits, surveillance, access control, and staff awareness.

The difference between recorded inventory and actual stock, caused by theft, fraud, administrative error, or supplier issues. It is a key measure used to evaluate loss prevention effectiveness.