I85PREP
⌘ K
PSC Kenya study materials
PSC Kenya study resources

PSC Kenya practice questions

One question at a time. Build your PSC Kenya understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which body is established under Kenya's Private Security Regulation Act to license and regulate private security service providers?

  1. The National Intelligence Service Board
  2. The Private Security Regulatory Authority Correct answer.
  3. The National Police Service Commission
  4. The Kenya Security Industry Federation

Explanation

The Private Security Regulation Act creates the Private Security Regulatory Authority as the statutory regulator with powers to license providers and discipline them. The other bodies exist in Kenyan law or industry but do not hold this statutory licensing mandate over private security firms.

Question 2Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Under the Private Security Regulation Act, which of the following is a core function of the Private Security Regulatory Authority?

  1. Commanding the General Service Unit during operations
  2. Prosecuting criminal cases in the magistrates' courts
  3. Licensing and regulating private security service providers Correct answer.
  4. Issuing national identity cards to security officers

Explanation

The Authority's statutory mandate centres on licensing, regulating, and overseeing private security service providers and their officers. Criminal prosecution, national registration of citizens, and command of police units fall outside its functions.

Question 3Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A private security firm wishes to operate lawfully in Kenya. Which document must it obtain from the regulator before offering guarding services?

  1. A certificate of registration from the Chamber of Commerce
  2. A valid licence issued by the Private Security Regulatory Authority Correct answer.
  3. A permit from the local police station commander
  4. A trade licence from the county government alone

Explanation

Operating as a private security service provider requires a licence from the Private Security Regulatory Authority under the Act. County trade licences and other permits may be additional requirements but cannot substitute for the statutory security licence.

Question 4Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which of the following best describes a 'private security service provider' under the Kenyan regulatory framework?

  1. A police reservist performing official duties
  2. A government department managing its own internal access control
  3. Any citizen who volunteers to guard a neighbour's home
  4. A person or entity that offers security services for a fee or reward Correct answer.

Explanation

The framework regulates persons and entities offering security services commercially, that is, for fee or reward. Volunteers, police reservists, and state departments acting in their own capacity are not commercial providers under the Act.

Question 5Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Before a person is engaged as a private security officer in Kenya, which requirement must be satisfied?

  1. Registration with the Private Security Regulatory Authority Correct answer.
  2. Membership of a political party
  3. Ownership of a firearm licence
  4. Completion of a driving course

Explanation

Private security officers must be registered with the Authority before deployment, and the Act sets conditions for that registration. Political affiliation, firearm ownership, and driving qualifications are not general prerequisites for registration.

Question 6Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which of the following is a recognised duty of a private security officer acting within the law in Kenya?

  1. Protecting the premises and persons they are deployed to guard Correct answer.
  2. Conducting criminal investigations independently
  3. Arresting and detaining suspects for questioning at will
  4. Imposing fines on members of the public

Explanation

A private security officer's lawful role is protective: guarding premises, property, and persons as deployed. Powers of arrest, investigation, and punishment belong to state authorities, and officers must not assume them.

Question 7Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which statute is the principal legislation governing private security services in Kenya?

  1. The Employment Act
  2. The Penal Code
  3. The Private Security Regulation Act Correct answer.
  4. The National Police Service Act

Explanation

The Private Security Regulation Act is the dedicated statute establishing the regulator and the licensing regime for private security. The other statutes govern policing, criminal offences, and employment respectively, though they may apply in specific contexts.

Question 8Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A security guard employed by a licensed firm commits a disciplinary offence at work. Which body primarily handles discipline within the firm's internal structure?

  1. The National Police Service
  2. The Private Security Regulatory Authority directly
  3. The Employment and Labour Relations Court
  4. The employing security company through its internal disciplinary process Correct answer.

Explanation

Day-to-day discipline of a guard is handled internally by the employing company under its policies and employment law. The Authority has regulatory oversight and can act on serious matters, but it does not replace the employer's internal disciplinary process.

Question 9Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A licensed security firm wants to deploy an officer to a new client site. Which condition must the firm confirm regarding the officer?

  1. That the officer is registered with the Authority and suitably trained Correct answer.
  2. That the officer owns the uniform issued
  3. That the officer resides within one kilometre of the site
  4. That the officer has served in the police for at least five years

Explanation

Deployment requires that the officer be registered with the Authority and have undergone the required training. Prior police service, uniform ownership, and proximity of residence are not statutory deployment conditions.

Question 10Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Under the regulatory framework, which of the following would most likely disqualify a person from registration as a private security officer?

  1. Being over thirty years of age
  2. Having a secondary school certificate
  3. Having changed employers once in five years
  4. A recent conviction for a violent offence Correct answer.

Explanation

Good character is central to registration, and a recent conviction for a violent offence is a strong ground for refusal. Changing employers, holding academic certificates, or age within the adult range do not disqualify a candidate.

Question 11Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A security company's licence is suspended by the Authority. What is the immediate legal consequence for the firm's operations?

  1. It may transfer its licence to another company
  2. It must cease providing regulated security services until the suspension is lifted Correct answer.
  3. It may operate under a police station's name
  4. It may continue operating while it appeals the decision

Explanation

A suspended licence removes the firm's authority to provide regulated security services, so operations must stop until the suspension is resolved through the proper process. Continuing to operate despite suspension exposes the firm to enforcement action.

Question 12Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which of the following is most consistent with the training obligations placed on private security providers?

  1. Relying solely on training received in a previous unrelated job
  2. Delegating all training to the client whose premises are guarded
  3. Allowing officers to learn only through on-the-job experience
  4. Ensuring officers receive the prescribed training before and during service Correct answer.

Explanation

The framework expects providers to ensure their officers are trained to the prescribed standard, both before deployment and through continuing training. Informal experience alone or client-run instruction does not satisfy the regulatory expectation.

Question 13Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A guard on duty observes a person committing a robbery on the guarded premises. Which action is most appropriate under the law?

  1. Pursue and beat the suspect to recover the property
  2. Raise an alarm, protect life, and promptly alert the police Correct answer.
  3. Confiscate the suspect's property as evidence without police involvement
  4. Detain the suspect indefinitely in a back room

Explanation

The lawful priority is protecting life, raising alarm, and handing the matter to the police, who have investigative authority. Corporal punishment, prolonged private detention, and unilateral seizure of property exceed a guard's lawful role.

Question 14Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between private security providers and the National Police Service?

  1. Private providers complement the police but remain under their own regulatory authority Correct answer.
  2. Private providers are a branch of the National Police Service
  3. Private providers exercise the same powers as police officers
  4. Private providers take operational orders directly from the Inspector General

Explanation

Private security providers supplement public policing but are regulated separately by the Authority and do not form part of the National Police Service. They do not hold police powers or answer operationally to the Inspector General.

Question 15Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A firm is found to be operating without a valid licence. Which outcome is most consistent with the regulatory framework?

  1. Transfer of the firm's clients to the police
  2. Exemption from regulation because it has clients
  3. Enforcement action against the firm, including possible prosecution and closure Correct answer.
  4. Automatic grant of a temporary licence

Explanation

Unlicensed operation is an offence under the regulatory framework, exposing the firm to enforcement measures such as prosecution, closure, and penalties. Having clients or applying late does not create automatic legitimacy.

Question 16Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which of the following best reflects the good-character requirement for registration as a private security officer?

  1. The applicant must demonstrate honesty and absence of serious criminal conduct Correct answer.
  2. The applicant must have a guarantor who is a police officer
  3. The applicant must be a member of a recognised religious group
  4. The applicant must own property in the county of deployment

Explanation

Good character focuses on honesty, integrity, and freedom from serious criminal conduct relevant to security work. Religious affiliation, police guarantors, and property ownership are not the legal test of character.

Question 17Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A client asks a security firm to have its guards conduct an invasive search of all visitors' personal bags without consent or signage. How should the firm respond?

  1. Refuse all forms of access control at the site
  2. Instruct guards to conduct the searches as requested
  3. Ask guards to conduct searches secretly
  4. Advise that searches must be lawful, proportionate, and clearly communicated Correct answer.

Explanation

Access control and searches must be lawful and proportionate, with clear notice and consent-based conditions of entry. Following an unlawful instruction or conducting covert searches could expose the firm and guards to liability.

Question 18Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which of the following is a legitimate ground on which the Authority may take regulatory action against a licensed provider?

  1. Paying employees above the minimum wage
  2. Employing officers from more than one county
  3. Breach of licensing conditions and professional standards Correct answer.
  4. Operating from rented premises

Explanation

Regulatory action is triggered by breaches of licence conditions, standards, or the Act itself. Paying fair wages, renting premises, or employing staff across counties are lawful practices, not grounds for sanction.

Question 19Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A guard is instructed by a client's manager to use a firearm to scare away loitering youths. Which principle should govern the guard's response?

  1. The client's instruction justifies any use of the firearm
  2. Guards may fire warning shots whenever they choose
  3. Firearm use is at the guard's sole discretion without any rules
  4. Firearms may only be used within strict legal limits and proportionate to a real threat Correct answer.

Explanation

Use of firearms is tightly restricted and must be proportionate to a genuine threat to life, not to enforce a client's preferences. Client instructions cannot authorise unlawful force, and warning shots are not a free discretion.

Question 20Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which record-keeping practice best supports a security firm's compliance with the regulatory framework?

  1. Destroying incident reports after each shift
  2. Recording only financial transactions
  3. Keeping officer records only while they are on duty
  4. Maintaining accurate registers of licensed officers, training, and incidents Correct answer.

Explanation

Accurate records of registered officers, training, and incidents allow the firm to demonstrate compliance and support investigations. Financial-only records or destroyed reports undermine accountability and regulatory oversight.

Question 21Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A registered officer resigns from one licensed firm and joins another. What is the correct regulatory position?

  1. The officer may work unregistered during the transition
  2. The officer's registration automatically lapses and cannot be renewed
  3. The previous employer retains the officer's registration permanently
  4. The new employer must ensure the officer's registration status is valid and properly updated Correct answer.

Explanation

Registration attaches to the officer under the regulatory system, and the new employer must confirm the officer's status is valid and properly updated. Registration does not belong to the former employer, and working unregistered is not permitted.

Question 22Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which scenario most clearly amounts to an unlawful exercise of police powers by a private security officer?

  1. Interrogating a suspect for hours to obtain a confession Correct answer.
  2. Patrolling a perimeter fence
  3. Writing a shift handover report
  4. Directing visitors to a reception desk

Explanation

Interrogation to extract a confession is a police function, and a private officer conducting it usurps state authority and may breach fair-trial rights. Reports, visitor direction, and patrolling are ordinary lawful duties.

Question 23Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A provider's licence application contains a forged training certificate. What is the most accurate legal characterisation?

  1. Acceptable if the officer later completes training
  2. A minor clerical error with no regulatory consequence
  3. A false representation that can lead to refusal, revocation, and prosecution Correct answer.
  4. Permissible if the client approves the officer

Explanation

Submitting forged documents is a false representation that undermines the licensing process and can attract refusal, revocation, and criminal prosecution. Later training or client approval does not cure the original falsification.

Question 24Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Which combination best reflects the regulator's oversight powers over a licensed provider?

  1. Only the power to publish a list of firms
  2. Inspection, conditions on licence, suspension, and revocation Correct answer.
  3. Only the power to issue initial licences
  4. Only the power to collect annual fees

Explanation

The regulator's oversight is broad, including inspection, imposing licence conditions, suspension, and revocation where standards are breached. A narrow fee-collection or listing role would not enable effective regulation.

Question 25Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A guard detains a suspected shoplifter. Which approach best satisfies legal and regulatory expectations?

  1. Detain the suspect until they sign a confession
  2. Search the suspect's home to recover goods
  3. Release the suspect only after payment of a fine
  4. Detain briefly and safely, then hand the suspect to the police without harm Correct answer.

Explanation

Any detention by a private officer must be brief, safe, and followed by handing the suspect to the police, who have authority to investigate and charge. Confessions, home searches, and private fines exceed the guard's lawful role.

Question 26Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

Under the Private Security Regulation Act, which body is empowered to license and regulate private security service providers in Kenya?

  1. The Private Security Regulatory Authority Correct answer.
  2. The county security committee
  3. The National Police Service Commission
  4. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations

Explanation

The Private Security Regulation Act establishes the Private Security Regulatory Authority as the body that licenses providers and exercises regulatory oversight over the sector. The National Police Service Commission and the DCI deal with police personnel and criminal investigation respectively, not private security licensing. County security committees coordinate local security matters but hold no licensing mandate over providers.

Question 27Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A security officer wishes to be registered under the private security regulatory framework. Which requirement is central to eligibility for registration as an individual officer?

  1. Owning at least one registered firearm in the officer's own name
  2. Residing in the same county as the firm's head office
  3. Holding a valid certificate of good conduct and meeting the prescribed training requirements Correct answer.
  4. Being a former member of the National Police Service

Explanation

Registration of individual officers rests on proof of good conduct and completion of the prescribed training, together with any other conditions set by the Authority. Firearm ownership, prior police service and place of residence are not statutory eligibility criteria. These conditions exist to ensure officers are trustworthy and competent before deployment.

Question 28Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A licensed security firm is contracted to guard a private estate. A resident asks the firm's guards to arrest and hold a visitor until police arrive. Which statement best describes the guards' lawful position?

  1. They may detain the visitor indefinitely until the resident decides whether to press charges
  2. They may arrest the visitor only after obtaining a warrant from a magistrate
  3. They may arrest the visitor because the resident has authorised it in writing
  4. They may arrest the visitor only if a citizen's arrest is justified by an offence committed in their presence, and must hand the person to police promptly Correct answer.

Explanation

Private security officers have no special police powers of arrest; they may only exercise the limited citizen's arrest available to any member of the public where an offence is committed in their presence. Once arrested, the person must be delivered to the National Police Service without unnecessary delay. A client's instruction cannot enlarge that power, and no warrant is required for a citizen's arrest.

Question 29Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A security firm's guards are deployed at a shopping mall. A dispute arises over whether the guards may search shoppers' bags at the entrance. Which approach best reflects the legal and regulatory position?

  1. Search only shoppers who appear suspicious to the guard on duty
  2. Search every shopper forcibly because the mall owner has a general right to protect property
  3. Search only where the National Police Service has issued a standing written approval
  4. Conduct searches only on a lawful basis such as clear, visible and consensual conditions of entry, applied consistently and with dignity Correct answer.

Explanation

Private security officers have no general statutory power to search members of the public; searches must rest on a lawful basis such as consent given as a condition of entry, and must be conducted respectfully and consistently. Forceful or discriminatory searching exposes the firm to liability and regulatory action. Police approval is not the mechanism that creates a search power for private guards.

Question 30Law and the Private Security Regulatory Framework

A provider's licence is revoked by the Authority while the firm continues to trade and deploy guards. Which legal analysis best describes the firm's position and the likely regulatory consequence?

  1. The firm may continue trading because revocation only takes effect once a court convicts the directors
  2. Continued operation is unlawful, and the firm and its responsible officers may face enforcement action including prosecution and penalties under the Act Correct answer.
  3. The firm's contracts automatically transfer to the National Police Service until a new licence is issued
  4. The firm may continue trading provided it notifies existing clients of the revocation

Explanation

Once a licence is revoked, the provider has no lawful authority to offer private security services, and continuing to do so constitutes an offence under the regulatory framework. Enforcement can extend to the firm and to its responsible officers, including prosecution and statutory penalties. Revocation operates by force of the regulator's decision, not by a prior criminal conviction of directors.

Question 31Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Under the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) framework in Kenya, which body is mandated to register and license private security service providers?

  1. The National Police Service Commission
  2. The Kenya Private Sector Alliance
  3. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations
  4. The Private Security Regulatory Authority Correct answer.

Explanation

The Private Security Regulatory Authority is the statutory regulator created to register, license and discipline private security service providers and guards in Kenya. It sets standards of conduct and can suspend or revoke a licence. The other bodies have policing, oversight or business-advocacy mandates rather than security-industry regulation.

Question 32Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A guard is posted at the gate of a residential estate. Which action best reflects the ethical duty of a private security officer towards members of the public?

  1. Demanding payment from visitors before allowing them in
  2. Refusing entry to visitors who cannot speak English
  3. Treating all visitors courteously and fairly regardless of their appearance or tribe Correct answer.
  4. Searching visitors only when they look suspicious to the guard

Explanation

The code of conduct requires guards to act with fairness, courtesy and respect for human dignity, without discrimination on grounds such as ethnicity or appearance. Profiling on looks or language is discriminatory and unprofessional. Unofficial payments at the gate amount to extortion and are prohibited.

Question 33Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which principle best describes the ethical obligation of a private security officer regarding confidential information learned while on duty?

  1. Transparency, meaning all client information should be shared with colleagues
  2. Discretion, meaning information may be sold to interested parties at the guard's discretion
  3. Confidentiality, meaning information is disclosed only where the law or duty requires Correct answer.
  4. Publicity, meaning incidents should be shared on social media to deter crime

Explanation

Confidentiality obliges officers to keep client and incident information private and to disclose it only to those with a lawful need to know, such as management or police. Sharing or selling information breaches both the code of conduct and data protection law. Transparency and publicity do not override the duty of confidence.

Question 34Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A security officer is offered a substantial cash gift by a contractor hoping to be awarded a guarding contract at the officer's site. What is the most ethical response?

  1. Accept the gift and keep it confidential
  2. Decline the gift and report the offer to management Correct answer.
  3. Accept the gift only if the contractor wins the contract
  4. Accept the gift but disclose it to a colleague

Explanation

Accepting gifts from parties seeking business creates a conflict of interest and undermines impartial procurement, so the officer must decline and report the attempt. Disclosure to a colleague after acceptance does not cure the impropriety. Integrity requires that the offer be documented and escalated.

Question 35Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which of the following best captures the standard of conduct expected of a private security officer towards the use of force?

  1. Force may be used freely once a guard feels provoked
  2. Force should be used first to establish authority over suspects
  3. Force must be necessary, proportionate and used only as a last resort Correct answer.
  4. Force is permitted whenever a guard is acting on a client's instruction

Explanation

The code of conduct and Kenyan law permit force only when it is necessary and proportionate to a legitimate aim, and only after lesser means have failed. Force is never a first response to assert authority. A client's instruction cannot legitimise excessive force.

Question 36Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A guard notices a colleague routinely sleeping on night duty. What is the correct course of action consistent with the code of conduct?

  1. Inform the client's tenants so they can complain
  2. Report the matter through the proper supervisory channel Correct answer.
  3. Ignore it because it is not the guard's responsibility
  4. Confront the colleague publicly at the gate

Explanation

Officers have a duty to report misconduct and security lapses through the proper chain of command. Ignoring the lapse endangers the site, while public confrontation or alarming tenants is unprofessional. Reporting protects both the colleague and the client.

Question 37Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which statement best describes the relationship between a private security officer's powers and those of a police officer?

  1. A private security officer has no police powers beyond a citizen's powers of arrest Correct answer.
  2. A private security officer may conduct searches without consent or lawful authority
  3. A private security officer may detain suspects indefinitely until police arrive
  4. A private security officer exercises the same powers as a police officer while on duty

Explanation

Private security officers are civilians and possess only the powers available to any citizen, such as arrest in limited circumstances, plus contractual rights on client premises. They do not acquire police powers by wearing a uniform or being on duty. Detention must be brief and handed over to police promptly.

Question 38Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A client asks a guard to eject a tenant from a rented house because the tenant is in arrears. Which response is most consistent with the code of conduct?

  1. Change the locks and hold the tenant's belongings until payment
  2. Eject the tenant immediately because the client owns the property
  3. Explain that eviction is a legal process and decline to act without lawful authority Correct answer.
  4. Threaten the tenant with arrest to force payment

Explanation

Eviction is governed by tenancy law and must follow a lawful process, usually through a court or tribunal order. A guard cannot act as an informal enforcer for a landlord. Threatening arrest or seizing belongings is unlawful and exposes the guard and firm to liability.

Question 39Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

During an incident, a guard uses a baton to strike an already subdued person. How should this be characterised under the code of conduct?

  1. Acceptable force, because the guard was on duty
  2. Reasonable force, because a baton is issued equipment
  3. Excessive force, because the person was already subdued and no further force was necessary Correct answer.
  4. Justified force, because the incident was stressful

Explanation

Force must stop once the threat is neutralised; striking a subdued person is unnecessary and disproportionate. The fact that equipment is issued or that the guard was on duty does not authorise its misuse. Stress does not justify force against a person who poses no threat.

Question 40Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which action best demonstrates the ethical principle of accountability for a security supervisor?

  1. Approving all reports without reading them to save time
  2. Delegating all responsibility for mistakes to junior guards
  3. Rewarding guards who quietly resolve complaints without paperwork
  4. Keeping accurate records of incidents, decisions and actions taken Correct answer.

Explanation

Accountability requires that decisions and incidents be documented so they can be reviewed and justified. Blanket approval or shifting blame to juniors undermines oversight. Rewarding informal resolution without records conceals problems and prevents learning.

Question 41Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A guard is asked by a supervisor to falsify an incident log so the firm avoids a client penalty. What should the guard do?

  1. Falsify the log because the supervisor gave a direct order
  2. Falsify the log but keep a private copy of the truth
  3. Delay the report indefinitely to avoid conflict
  4. Refuse to falsify the log and report the instruction to higher management Correct answer.

Explanation

Falsifying records is dishonest and may amount to an offence, and obedience to a supervisor is no defence. The guard should refuse and escalate the instruction through the proper channel. Keeping a private copy while falsifying the official record still produces a false report.

Question 42Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which behaviour best reflects respect for human rights by a private security officer during a confrontation?

  1. Using minimum force and ensuring the person's dignity is preserved Correct answer.
  2. Recording the confrontation for entertainment purposes
  3. Confiscating the person's identification documents as security
  4. Restraining the person in a public place to humiliate them

Explanation

Respect for human rights requires minimum necessary force and preservation of dignity even during enforcement. Humiliation, confiscation of documents and entertainment recording all violate dignity and privacy. These acts also expose the officer and firm to legal action.

Question 43Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A security firm's guard is found to have accepted money to allow unauthorised goods out of a warehouse. Which combination of code breaches does this represent?

  1. Punctuality and dress-code breaches
  2. Confidentiality and teamwork breaches
  3. Corruption and dereliction of duty Correct answer.
  4. Courtesy and communication breaches

Explanation

Taking money to permit unauthorised removal is corruption, and failing to protect the client's property is dereliction of duty. These are serious integrity and performance breaches that can attract dismissal and criminal liability. The other pairings describe minor or unrelated conduct issues.

Question 44Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which statement correctly describes the duty of a private security officer who witnesses a serious crime while off duty?

  1. Conceal the matter because the officer was off duty
  2. Investigate the crime independently before involving police
  3. Report the matter to the police and cooperate as a witness Correct answer.
  4. Pursue and arrest the suspect single-handedly as a duty

Explanation

Every citizen, including an off-duty guard, has a civic duty to report serious crime and assist the police as a witness. Independent investigation or lone pursuit can endanger the officer and interfere with evidence. Being off duty does not remove the obligation to report.

Question 45Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A guard at a shopping mall is asked by a customer to hold a suspected shoplifter. Which approach best complies with the code of conduct?

  1. Search the suspect's bag without consent to confirm the theft
  2. Release the suspect only after they pay for the goods
  3. Announce the suspect's name to shoppers as a deterrent
  4. Detain the suspect briefly using minimum force and hand over to police promptly Correct answer.

Explanation

A citizen's arrest must be based on reasonable grounds, use minimum force and be handed to police without unreasonable delay. Searching without consent and public naming violate the suspect's rights. Demanding payment instead of involving police is extortion.

Question 46Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which of the following best explains why a private security officer should avoid excessive consumption of alcohol while off duty but on call?

  1. Off-duty conduct is irrelevant to professional standards
  2. Only uniformed officers are expected to remain fit for duty
  3. Being on call requires fitness for duty at short notice Correct answer.
  4. Alcohol consumption is illegal for all security officers at all times

Explanation

A guard on call may be required to respond at short notice, so fitness for duty is a professional expectation. The code addresses conduct that impairs readiness and judgment, not a total prohibition on alcohol. Off-duty behaviour that affects duty readiness is a legitimate concern.

Question 47Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A guard discovers that a colleague has been sharing a client's CCTV footage with friends. What is the most appropriate first step?

  1. Confront the colleague and demand a share of any payment
  2. Report the breach through the firm's reporting channel Correct answer.
  3. Post about it on social media to expose the colleague
  4. Delete all footage to prevent further sharing

Explanation

Unauthorised sharing of CCTV breaches confidentiality and data protection law, and must be reported through the proper channel so it can be investigated and stopped. Demanding a share of payment or public exposure is itself misconduct. Deleting footage destroys evidence.

Question 48Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

Which situation best illustrates a conflict of interest for a security officer?

  1. Working overtime at the same site for extra pay
  2. Reporting a colleague's misconduct to a supervisor
  3. Attending a training course on customer care
  4. Guarding a site owned by a company in which the officer holds shares Correct answer.

Explanation

A conflict of interest arises where the officer's personal financial interest could influence how the guarding duty is performed. Holding shares in the client company may compromise impartiality and must be declared. Overtime, training and reporting misconduct are normal, permitted activities.

Question 49Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A guard is instructed to use a client's private detention room to hold a suspected thief overnight before police are called. Why is this instruction improper?

  1. It is proper if the guard keeps a written record
  2. It is proper because the client owns the premises
  3. It is proper because the suspect has not yet been charged
  4. It amounts to unlawful detention and must be refused and reported Correct answer.

Explanation

Holding a person overnight without lawful authority is unlawful detention, and property ownership or lack of charges does not authorise it. A citizen's arrest must be handed to police without unreasonable delay. Record-keeping cannot convert an unlawful detention into a lawful one.

Question 50Private Security Code of Conduct and Ethics

A security manager learns that guards have been routinely using force to extract confessions from suspected thieves. Which response best reflects ethical leadership?

  1. Stop the practice immediately, report it and retrain the guards on lawful conduct Correct answer.
  2. Quietly transfer the guards to another site to avoid scandal
  3. Reward the guards for recovering stolen goods
  4. Continue the practice because it deters theft at the client's premises

Explanation

Extracting confessions by force is unlawful and violates human rights, so leadership must stop it, report it and correct conduct through training. Continuing, hiding or rewarding the practice makes the manager complicit and exposes the firm to serious liability. Ethical leadership requires decisive corrective action.