Roles, Responsibilities and Legal Authority of the Security Guard
What a security guard actually is
In Manitoba, a security guard is a private citizen with a licence to work, not a peace officer. That single sentence drives most exam questions. A guard's authority comes from the same sources as any other person's: the Criminal Code powers of arrest and defence of property, the common-law right to defend oneself and others, and the property owner's civil authority to set conditions of entry and ask people to leave. The guard borrows the owner's authority; the guard does not create it.
Core duties
Expect questions on: observing and reporting, deterring loss, controlling access, protecting people and property, documenting incidents, and calling police when a criminal matter exceeds the guard's role. Guards do not investigate crimes, lay charges, search people as a condition of release, or make decisions reserved for police or the courts.
Traps
Common wrong answers claim guards can arrest for any offence, detain someone for questioning, use force to recover property, or that a licence grants police-like powers. Others confuse the client's instructions with legal authority - a client cannot authorize an unlawful act. Remember too that "detain" in a loss-prevention context is legally risky; the safer framing is arrest under the Criminal Code with immediate police notification, or a request to remain that the person is free to refuse.
Rule of thumb
Ask three questions before acting: Do I have a lawful authority (statute, common law, or property owner's permission)? Is the action necessary and proportionate? Would I be able to explain it in writing to a police officer and a judge? If any answer is no, observe, report, and call for help.
Worked example
A patron refuses to leave a bar. The guard has authority because the licensee controls the premises, not because of the guard licence. The guard asks, then repeats the request, then calls police if the person remains. Force is not the first tool; it is a last resort when someone is at risk.