Sri Lanka Security Guard cheat sheet

A private security guard in Sri Lanka holds no police powers: powers of arrest, search, and detention belong to the Police under the Criminal Procedure Code; a guard's authority comes from the property owner's invitation and from citizen's arrest rules.

Citizen's arrest (Criminal Procedure Code): a private person may arrest without warrant a person who in their presence commits a cognizable offence, or who is a proclaimed offender; the arrested person must be handed to a police officer or taken to the nearest police station without unnecessary delay.

Private security services are regulated by the National Authority for the Protection of Public Safety and Interests (established under the Private Security Services Act framework); guards must carry the licence/identity issued through the registered agency and work only under a licensed agency.

Use of force must be necessary and proportionate: force is lawful only in defence of person or property and must stop once the threat ends; deadly force is never justified merely to protect property.

Arrest is not the same as detention: holding a person against their will without lawful grounds can constitute wrongful confinement or abduction, exposing the guard and agency to civil and criminal liability.

Search of a person or bag requires consent or a contractual/entry condition made clear in advance; a guard may refuse entry but must not forcibly search a resisting person - call Police.

Trespass: a guard may ask an intruder to leave private premises and may use reasonable, minimum force to remove a trespasser who refuses, but should record the incident and involve Police for prosecution.

Evidence handling: any item seized or found must be documented, sealed, and handed to Police with a receipt; guards must preserve a scene and avoid contaminating evidence until Police arrive.

Guards have no right to confiscate national identity cards or personal documents; they may record details with consent and must return originals.

The security perimeter has three layers: outer (fence, gate, lighting), inner (building envelope, doors, locks), and asset (safe, server room, control room); each layer must be independently effective.

Access control decision rule: identify → verify → authorise → record. Any step missing means deny entry or escalate to supervisor.

Three authentication factors: something you know (PIN), something you have (card, key), something you are (biometric). Two different factors = two-factor authentication; two of the same type is not.

Tailgating and piggybacking are the most common access-control failures; anti-passback, turnstiles, mantraps, and one-person-per-swipe rules reduce them.

Visitor management: every visitor needs a named host, purpose, time-in/time-out, badge visible at all times, and escort in restricted areas; badges are surrendered on exit.

Key control: keys and access cards are issued against signature, logged, and returned on termination; lost keys trigger a re-key or card deactivation.

Vehicle control: check driver, passengers, vehicle registration, and undercarriage/mirror check at the gate; delivery vehicles are logged and escorted to the loading area.

CCTV is a deterrent and evidence tool, not a substitute for a guard: coverage must include entry points, cash handling, and blind spots; recordings are retained per policy and chain of custody applies.

Lighting standard: perimeter and entrances should be lit so that a person's face is identifiable at the checkpoint; dark zones are reported as security defects.

Fire triangle: fuel + oxygen + heat. Extinguishing removes at least one side; a fire blanket removes oxygen, water removes heat, isolation removes fuel.

Extinguisher classes: A = solid combustibles (water, foam, ABC powder); B = flammable liquids (foam, CO2, powder - never water jet); C = flammable gases (isolate supply, powder); electrical fires (CO2 or powder, never water); F/K = cooking oils (wet chemical).

PASS technique: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; stay with an exit at your back and withdraw if the fire grows.

Evacuation priority order: alarm and alert, evacuate people, contain (close doors), then call fire service; never re-enter a building for property.

Assembly point rules: it must be upwind, at a safe distance, clear of fire-service access; roll call is taken against the visitor/staff register and results reported to the fire service.

Evacuation is by stairs only during fire; lifts are not used unless a designated fire lift operated by trained staff.

Smoke behaviour: hot smoke rises and spreads horizontally along ceilings; stay low, crawl under smoke, and feel doors with the back of the hand before opening.

Fire wardens/marshals check rooms, close doors, guide occupants, and report floor-clear status; guards control the assembly point, keep access routes open for fire appliances, and prevent re-entry.

A fire extinguisher is used only on a small, incipient fire with a clear escape route; if the fire is larger than a waste-paper bin or spreading, evacuate and call the fire service.

BLS sequence for an adult: ensure scene safety → check response → shout for help → open airway (head tilt-chin lift) → check breathing and pulse for no more than 10 seconds → if unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR and send for AED.

Adult CPR: compressions at the centre of the chest, 5–6 cm deep, 100–120 per minute, full recoil, 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths; continue until help, AED, or the person recovers.

Recovery position: for an unresponsive person who is breathing normally - protects the airway and allows fluid to drain; never place a suspected spinal-injury casualty or a non-breathing person in it.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean dressing, add layers without removing the first, elevate if no fracture, and use a tourniquet only for life-threatening limb bleeding; record the time applied.

Choking adult: encourage coughing; if ineffective, give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts, alternating; call for emergency help.

Burns: cool with running water for at least 20 minutes, remove jewellery before swelling, cover loosely with cling film or a clean non-fluffy dressing; never apply ice, butter, or toothpaste.

Fractures and sprains: immobilise in the position found, support with a sling or splint, check circulation beyond the injury, and do not attempt to straighten a deformed limb.

AED: switch on, follow voice prompts, attach pads to bare dry chest, ensure nobody touches the casualty during analysis or shock; an AED is safe to use and does not require a medical qualification.

Emergency numbers in Sri Lanka: 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance, 110 Police emergency, 119 fire and rescue; give location, number of casualties, and nature of the incident first.

Crowd density thresholds: below about 2 persons per square metre movement is free; around 4–5 per square metre movement becomes restricted and crowd pressure builds; above about 6 per square metre crushing risk is critical.

Crowd risk indicators: surging, bottleneck at a gate or stairway, counter-flow of people, people falling, and loss of front-line control - open alternative routes and stop inflow immediately.

De-escalation ladder: calm verbal engagement → active listening and empathy → offer options and time → clear, single instruction → withdrawal/escalation to supervisor or Police. Never escalate verbally in return.

Body language rules: keep a safe distance (about two arm's lengths), stand at an angle rather than square-on, keep hands visible and open, avoid prolonged staring, and never touch a person first.

Conflict stages: latent tension → triggering event → escalation → crisis → de-escalation → recovery; intervention is most effective in the escalation stage, before the crisis.

Use of force continuum for guards: presence → verbal direction → soft empty-hand control → hard empty-hand control; only the minimum level required, and only when other options have failed or are unsafe.

Crowd control barriers and queues: use serpentine/zig-zag queuing, clearly marked lanes, and stewards at every turn; announce changes before they happen to prevent panic.

Never use batons, shields, or physical force against a peaceful crowd; guards may not act as riot police - request Police support and record the request time.

After a conflict, separate the parties, obtain names and witnesses, and complete an incident report the same shift while memory is fresh.

Report structure: date/time/location → who was involved (full names, designations, ID numbers) → what happened in chronological order → action taken → witnesses → evidence/attachments → signature and designation.

Use the 5W1H check: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How - a report missing any of these is incomplete and will be returned.

Write in the past tense, third person, and factual style; record observed facts, not opinions or conclusions ('the man shouted at the gate' not 'the man was rude').

Record times exactly and in a consistent format (24-hour clock); note when an entry is an estimate ('approx. 22:10').

Never leave blank spaces in a bound notebook or register - draw a line through unused space; never erase or overwrite; correct errors with a single line, initial, and date.

Quote speech directly where possible and attribute it: 'The visitor said: "I will come back"' - do not paraphrase into your own words.

Number and sign every page, use permanent ink, and hand over the original; keep a copy only if policy allows and log it.

Incident report vs. daily occurrence log: the log records routine events and patrol checks; the incident report is a formal account of an unusual event, injury, loss, or crime, submitted to the supervisor within the shift.

Statements to Police should be factual and consistent with the guard's notebook; a guard may be called as a witness and should not alter records after submission.

Patrol types: fixed post, foot patrol, vehicle patrol, and random patrol; random and irregular timing is the most effective deterrent because it defeats observation of a pattern.

Clock-in checkpoints (patrol tour systems) prove the route was walked; missed or out-of-sequence checkpoints must be reported, not back-filled.

Observation discipline: scan far to near, then near to far, and sweep high, middle, and low levels; use the 'what is out of place' baseline approach.

Fives senses and 'sixth sense': record what is abnormal - a door normally locked now open, a light normally on now off, an unfamiliar vehicle, a smell of burning.

Night patrol: carry a torch, keep to the perimeter and away from skylines, stay alert to sound, and vary routes and timing; use a radio check-in at fixed intervals.

Surveillance principles: maintain a log with time and description, do not confront alone if a crime is in progress - observe, report, and preserve safety.

CCTV monitoring: watch for behavioural cues (loitering, repeated approach to vehicles, testing doors), record time-stamped notes, and never leave the monitor unattended without a relief.

Patrol report content: route walked, checkpoint times, defects found (lighting, locks, fire exits), unusual observations, and action taken; defects are reported to the supervisor, not repaired by the guard unless trained.

Handover: outgoing and incoming guards conduct a joint tour of keys, radio, registers, and outstanding incidents; both sign the handover register.

Guard's own PPE: high-visibility vest for traffic and night duties, torch, whistle, gloves for first aid, and weather-appropriate clothing; PPE is issued by the employer and its use is mandatory.

Manual handling: assess the load, keep it close to the body, bend the knees, keep the back straight, and do not twist while lifting; get help for loads above about 25 kg.

Shift and fatigue rules: long night shifts and rotating rosters increase errors; report fatigue, take scheduled breaks, and do not sleep on post - handover to a relief.

Workplace hazards to report: broken steps, wet floors, faulty wiring, poor lighting, aggressive visitors, lone-working risk, and inadequate rest areas.

Lone working: maintain radio or phone contact with the control room, agree check-in intervals, and report your location before entering isolated areas.

Slips, trips, and falls are the most common guard injuries: keep walkways clear, clean spills immediately or barricade them, and wear non-slip footwear.

Emergency and evacuation duties of the guard include knowing the fire exits, assembly point, first-aid kit location, and the emergency contact list for the site.

Incident and near-miss reporting: every injury and near miss is recorded and reported to the employer; near-miss data prevents future accidents.

Guards have a duty to cooperate with the employer's safety arrangements and a right to refuse unsafe work that poses an imminent serious risk, reporting it immediately.

Core ethical duties: honesty, integrity, confidentiality, impartiality, and accountability; a guard's integrity is the basis of the client's trust.

Human rights: every person, including a suspect or trespasser, retains the right to life, dignity, freedom from torture and cruel treatment, and fair treatment; guards must not humiliate, threaten, or discriminate.

Non-discrimination: entry and treatment decisions must not be based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, caste, disability, or nationality; record the objective reason for any refusal.

Confidentiality: visitor details, CCTV footage, and client business information are disclosed only to authorised persons or Police; unauthorised disclosure can breach data protection and the employment contract.

Corruption: accepting bribes, gifts, or favours to allow entry, ignore a rule, or suppress a report is a criminal and disciplinary offence; declare and refuse offers.

Use of force ethics: force is a last resort, must be proportionate and necessary, and must be reported; excessive force by a guard is a criminal matter, not just a disciplinary one.

Appearance and conduct: correct uniform, visible ID, no sleeping, drinking, or mobile-phone misuse on duty; sobriety is mandatory.

Whistleblowing and reporting: report misconduct by colleagues through the supervisor or agency channels; retaliation against a good-faith reporter is itself misconduct.

Detained persons: a guard must not interrogate, threaten, or use force to obtain information; the person must be handed to Police promptly and treated humanely until then.

Radio protocol: listen before transmitting, press the PTT, pause one second, speak clearly and slowly, release to listen; never speak over another station.

Phonetic alphabet for clarity: A-Alpha, B-Bravo, C-Charlie, D-Delta, E-Echo, F-Foxtrot, G-Golf, H-Hotel, I-India, J-Juliet, K-Kilo, L-Lima, M-Mike, N-November, O-Oscar, P-Papa, Q-Quebec, R-Romeo, S-Sierra, T-Tango, U-Uniform, V-Victor, W-Whiskey, X-X-ray, Y-Yankee, Z-Zulu.

Message structure: who you are calling → who you are → where you are → what you see → what you need; keep it short and acknowledge with 'received' or 'roger'.

Emergency radio words: 'MAYDAY' for life-threatening emergency, 'PAN PAN' for urgency without immediate danger, 'STANDBY' to hold, 'SAY AGAIN' to repeat; use plain language, not codes, for emergencies.

Battery and equipment checks: test radio, torch, and body camera at the start of every shift; report a faulty set immediately and log the replacement.

Radio dead spots: know the areas of poor coverage on site and use the phone or relay point there; never assume silence means 'all clear'.

Telephone and email etiquette: identify yourself and the site, confirm the caller's identity, record time and content of the call, and never give out personal data to an unverified caller.

CCTV and body-camera handling: check recording status, time/date stamp, and storage; footage is evidence and must not be deleted, edited, or shared informally.

Code words and alarm signals: use the site's agreed codes (e.g. 'Code Red' fire, 'Code Blue' medical) and know the escalation number for Police (110), ambulance (1990 Suwa Seriya) and fire (119).