Roles, Duties and Code of Conduct of a Security Guard
The guard's role
A security guard is the visible point of control at a site. The job is to deter, detect, report and respond within authority-not to punish. Typical duties include manning gates, checking passes, patrolling, watching alarms and CCTV, logging visitors, controlling keys and assisting in emergencies.
Duties and conduct
- Follow post orders and lawful instructions; know the site layout, exits and emergency contacts.
- Be punctual, sober, alert and correctly uniformed with ID displayed.
- Observe and record facts: time, place, people, words, actions and witnesses.
- Be courteous, impartial and confidential; never discriminate or harass.
- Use force only as a last resort, proportionately and lawfully; call police for offences.
- Do not sleep on duty, use the phone for entertainment, drink, gamble or accept bribes.
Worked example
A guard sees a visitor slipping a phone into a bag near a shop. He should not grab or search the person. He notes description, time and direction, informs the supervisor, preserves CCTV, and calls police if the suspect is still present. If a non-bailable, cognizable offence is committed in his presence, a private person may arrest under BNSS 2023 section 35 and must hand the person to police without unnecessary delay.
Traps that cost marks
- Detaining someone for hours on mere suspicion.
- Searching bags or bodies without consent, contractual authority or legal power.
- Writing opinions (“he looked like a thief”) instead of facts.
- Leaving the post unattended to chase a minor issue.