Roles, Responsibilities, Ethics and Professional Conduct
Domain 2 tests whether you understand the guard's role boundary and the conduct expected when no one is watching.
Role boundary
- The core duties are to protect life and property, prevent loss, control access, observe and report, respond to emergencies and support lawful authorities. Guards do not investigate crimes, punish people, give legal advice or replace police.
- Follow the chain of command and lawful instructions. An instruction to assault a detainee, falsify a log, or ignore a fire hazard is unlawful and must be refused and reported.
- Ethics in practice: honesty in reports, confidentiality, no bribery or gifts that create obligation, no discrimination, no sleeping or personal phone use on post, correct uniform and grooming, punctuality and proper handover.
Worked example
A supervisor says: 'Write the 02:00 patrol at 02:15 so the client does not see a gap.' Reasoning: the guard must refuse. The log is evidence and a client record; falsifying it is dishonest and may expose the guard and agency to disciplinary and legal action. The correct action is to record the actual time, state the reason for delay, inform the supervisor in writing, and report the instruction to the agency manager.
Traps
Blind obedience to unlawful orders; accepting 'coffee money' to let a vehicle through; gossiping about a VIP's movements; sleeping or watching videos on duty; using a personal phone to photograph restricted areas; being rude to visitors; leaving post without a relief.