Jamaica PSRA Guard Exam key terms

The Jamaican statutory body that registers and licenses private security guards, trainers, and security companies, and enforces standards of training and conduct under the Private Security Regulation Authority Act.

The formal process by which a person is entered on the PSRA register as a security guard after meeting training, character, and identification requirements, allowing lawful employment in the industry.

An official permit issued by the PSRA authorising a guard, trainer, or security company to operate for a set period, subject to renewal and revocable for breaches of the Act or regulations.

The process of applying to the PSRA to extend a licence before it expires, usually requiring proof of current training, a clean conduct record, and payment of the prescribed fee.

The PSRA's cancellation of a registration or licence, often after serious misconduct, criminal conviction, or fraud, which removes the person's or company's right to work in private security.

A temporary withdrawal of a registration or licence pending investigation or hearing, during which the guard or company may not perform the licensed security functions.

The PSRA-issued card or badge a registered guard must carry and display while on duty, showing the guard's name, photograph, registration number, and employer.

Falsely presenting oneself as a registered security guard, a police officer, or another official, an offence that undermines public trust and is punishable under Jamaican law.

The PSRA authorisation a business must hold to offer private security services, covering ownership suitability, insurance, record-keeping, and the employment of registered guards only.

An official check by PSRA officers of a security company's records, training files, equipment, and guard credentials to confirm adherence to the Act and regulations.

The duty of security firms to maintain accurate, confidential records of guards, licences, training, incidents, and client contracts, available for inspection by the PSRA.

The standards of behaviour expected of registered guards, including honesty, courtesy, non-discrimination, lawful use of authority, and avoidance of conflicts of interest.

The moral principles guiding a guard's decisions, such as integrity, fairness, accountability, and respect for the rights and dignity of every person encountered on duty.

A situation where a guard's personal, financial, or family interests could improperly influence official duties, such as guarding premises owned by a relative or accepting gifts from clients.

Dishonest abuse of a guard's position for personal gain, including bribery, theft, collusion with criminals, or accepting payment to overlook security breaches.

The duty not to disclose client, staff, or incident information learned during duty except to authorised persons or when legally required, protecting privacy and commercial trust.

Physical intervention by a guard only when necessary and proportionate to prevent harm or detain a suspect lawfully, never as punishment and always subject to review.

The minimum level of physical action a guard may use, judged by what a careful person would consider necessary in the same circumstances, to defend against a genuine threat.

The limited power of an ordinary person, including a guard, to detain someone found committing an offence or reasonably suspected of one, and to hand the person to the police promptly.

Temporarily holding a person in a safe place while awaiting police arrival, based on lawful grounds and for no longer than necessary, with dignity and no unnecessary restraint.

The legal and ethical obligation of a guard to act prudently to protect clients, visitors, and the public from foreseeable harm within the scope of the guard's role.

A structured review of threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences at a site, used to plan patrols, access control, and emergency responses before incidents occur.

The procedures and systems that decide who may enter a site, area, or building, using identity checks, passes, escorts, and barriers to prevent unauthorised entry.

A planned, recorded walk or drive through an assigned area to deter crime, detect hazards, verify locks and equipment, and observe anything unusual for reporting.

A factual written record of an event such as a theft, fire, injury, or confrontation, noting time, place, people, actions, and witnesses, completed promptly and without opinion.

The trained skill of noticing and mentally recording details of people, vehicles, and surroundings accurately, distinguishing observed facts from assumptions or hearsay.

A written account given by a guard about what was personally seen or heard, which may be used in disciplinary proceedings or criminal court and must be truthful and precise.

The immediate actions a guard takes during fire, medical emergency, crime, or disaster, following site plans, raising alarms, evacuating people, and contacting the relevant services.

Basic lifesaving care such as controlling bleeding, CPR, and the recovery position, given before professional help arrives, within the guard's certified training.

The required dress and appearance rules for guards, including company insignia, neatness, and clear separation from police uniforms to avoid public confusion.

The minimum instruction, at least 80 hours under the basic training standard, covering law, ethics, security skills, first aid, and emergency procedures before registration.

A test of a trainee's knowledge and practical skills, such as report writing, defensive techniques, and first aid, used to confirm readiness for registration.

A formal proceeding where allegations against a guard or company are examined, evidence heard, and sanctions such as warning, suspension, or revocation considered.

Failure to exercise the care a reasonable guard would show, causing loss or injury, which may lead to civil liability and regulatory sanction.

Unlawful entry onto private premises or refusal to leave when asked by a person with authority, which a guard may address by lawful request and, if needed, police assistance.

The lawful, respectful process of checking bags, vehicles, or premises with consent or clear legal authority, following company policy and avoiding unnecessary physical contact.

The documented record of who handled evidence, where, and when, from seizure to handover, preserving its reliability for police investigations and court proceedings.

The confidence the public places in private security, earned through lawful, courteous, and accountable behaviour and lost quickly through abuse or dishonesty.