Provincial Legislation and Private Security Regulation
The governing statute
BC's Security Services Act and its Security Services Regulation are administered by the Security Programs Division of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The Act regulates both sides of the industry: individuals must hold a security worker licence in the correct category, and companies offering security services must hold a security business licence and may only employ licensed workers.
Typical licence conditions and duties
Meeting age, work-authorization and good-character (criminal record check) requirements; completing BST; paying fees; carrying the licence (or being able to produce it) while on duty; producing it on request; working only within your licensed category; notifying the regulator of changes; following the Act, Regulation and any conditions imposed. Licences can be refused, conditioned, suspended or cancelled, and complaints can lead to investigation and discipline. Expect questions on uniforms and identification: security uniforms and badges must not resemble police uniforms or insignia, and impersonating a peace officer is a Criminal Code offence.
Other BC statutes that shape the job
Trespass Act (authority to ask people to leave private property), Liquor Control and Licensing Act, Motor Vehicle Act, BC Fire Code, Workers Compensation Act and OHS Regulation, and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) for handling personal information.
Trap: candidates assume a guard may do something because 'the Act says so' when the authority actually comes from the property owner or from the Criminal Code. Watch for confusion between the worker licence and the business licence, and between federal criminal law and provincial regulatory offences.
Rule of thumb: the regulator licences you, the client authorizes you, and the Criminal Code limits you - know which one a question is asking about.