PNP-SOSIA Security Guard key terms

A belief based on specific observable facts and circumstances, not a mere hunch, that a person has been, is, or is about to be involved in wrongdoing, justifying a cautious inquiry or observation.

A higher standard than suspicion, requiring facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe an offence has been committed and that a particular person committed it, supporting arrest or search decisions.

The limited power of a private person to detain someone who has committed or is committing an arrestable offence, or who is reasonably suspected of doing so, with the person and evidence handed to police promptly.

Restricting a person's freedom of movement, even briefly, by physical means or clear words. In private security it must be lawful, minimal in duration, and justified by an arrest power or contractual authority.

A graduated framework describing levels of resistance and matching responses, from presence and verbal direction through soft empty-hand control to harder techniques, guiding proportionate and escalating-only-as-needed responses.

Force that is more than reasonably necessary in the circumstances, or applied for punishment or retaliation. It exposes the officer and employer to criminal and civil liability and to licensing disciplinary action.

Physical or mechanical means used to control a person's limbs or movement, such as handcuffs. Restraint must be justified, applied by trained staff, monitored for breathing and circulation, and documented.

Fatal breathing restriction caused by body position, commonly when a restrained person is left face-down or with weight on the back. Officers must move the person to a seated or side position immediately after control.

Techniques using calm speech, distance, active listening, and time to reduce a person's agitation or aggression so that force or restraint becomes unnecessary or is kept to a minimum.

Deliberately concentrating on a speaker, reflecting back content and feeling, asking open questions, and avoiding interruption, so the person feels heard and cooperation becomes more likely.

A structured process of identifying the parties' underlying interests, separating people from problems, and negotiating mutually acceptable outcomes before a dispute escalates into violence or a security incident.

A short spoken acknowledgement of another person's feelings or situation, such as noting that a delay is frustrating, used to lower tension without conceding fault or authority.

The legal and ethical obligation of a security officer and employer to take reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable harm to visitors, staff, property, and the officer, including warning, protecting, and reporting hazards.

A systematic review identifying hazards, who may be harmed, how harm could occur, and what controls reduce the risk, recorded and reviewed so controls stay effective over time.

The ranked order of risk controls, from eliminating the hazard and substituting a safer method through engineering, administrative measures, down to personal protective equipment as the last line of defence.

A continuing, in-the-moment judgement of changing hazards during an incident or patrol, allowing the officer to adjust approach, request backup, or withdraw rather than follow a fixed plan blindly.

Worn or carried items such as gloves, helmets, high-visibility vests, and safety footwear that reduce injury exposure, selected after other controls and inspected before use.

Performing security duties without nearby colleague support, requiring a check-in schedule, reliable communications, a documented risk assessment, and clear escalation procedures for emergencies.

The process of permitting only authorised persons, vehicles, or items to enter or leave a protected area, using identification checks, passes, barriers, and logs to enforce the site's rules.

The end-to-end handling of non-staff arrivals, including pre-registration, identity verification, pass issue, escort rules, and sign-out, so that the site always knows who is present.

An unauthorised person following an authorised person through a controlled door or gate without presenting their own credential, countered by door discipline, turnstiles, and polite challenge.

The rule that certain visitors, contractors, or vehicles must remain accompanied by an approved person at all times in restricted areas, with the escort accountable for the visitor's conduct and location.

A record of arrivals and departures showing name, organisation, purpose, host, time in and out, and pass number, used for accountability and later investigation if an incident occurs.

A scripted, polite approach to an unidentified or unbadged person, identifying oneself, asking for their purpose and credential, and escalating to a supervisor if the answer is unsatisfactory.

A planned sequence of checkpoints and areas to be inspected, varying in timing and direction to avoid predictability, recorded so that patrol completion can be verified.

Confirming that a guard actually reached a patrol point, using a physical key station, barcode, or electronic tag, so records show real presence rather than assumed completion.

A contemporaneous written or electronic record of patrol times, observations, irregularities, and actions taken, forming the basis of later reports and potential court evidence.

Watching live or recorded camera feeds to detect and verify incidents, directing patrols, and preserving footage, always subject to privacy rules and lawful signage and retention limits.

A factual written account of an event covering who, what, when, where, how, and actions taken, written promptly, objectively, without opinion or blame, and retained for legal and insurance purposes.

Notes made at or near the time of an event, in a bound notebook with times, dates, and no gaps or overwriting, valued because early records are more accurate and credible in proceedings.

A documented, unbroken record of who collected, handled, moved, and stored an item or recording, from seizure to presentation, protecting its integrity and admissibility.

A person trained to check designated areas during an evacuation, guide occupants to exits and assembly points, close doors, and report to the fire coordinator on completion.

A pre-designated safe outdoor location where evacuees gather, are counted, and await instructions, chosen to be clear of buildings, vehicle routes, and fire service access.

A scheduled practice of the emergency plan, testing alarms, routes, warden roles, and roll call timing so that real evacuations run calmly and identified weaknesses can be corrected.

The grouping of fires by fuel type (ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, gases, metals, electrical, cooking oils) matched to suitable extinguishers, since using the wrong type can worsen a fire.

A documented set of procedures for foreseeable emergencies, assigning roles, alarm signals, evacuation routes, communication channels, and post-incident recovery steps, rehearsed and kept current.

The systematic count of people at an assembly point against a visitor log, staff list, or register, used to identify who may still be inside and to inform the fire service.

The immediate actions of assessing responsiveness and breathing, calling emergency services, starting CPR or first aid within training, and keeping the scene safe until professional help arrives.

Agreed rules for speaking on a security radio, including call signs, concise structured messages, priority phrases, and listening before transmitting, so messages are clear and channels stay usable.

The statutory requirement that a person hold a valid licence from the regulator before working in designated security roles, with conditions, expiry dates, and grounds for suspension or revocation.

Restrictions and requirements attached to a security licence, such as permitted duties, required training, or notification of changed circumstances, which must be complied with at all times.

The regulator's assessment of character, criminal history, honesty, and suitability to hold a licence, considering convictions, associations, and conduct rather than qualifications alone.

Legislation that regulates private security providers and personnel, establishing the licensing regulator, prohibited conduct, offences for unlicensed activity, and powers of inspection and enforcement.

The obligation of a security officer to inform the supervisor, client, or police, as required, about offences, safety hazards, and incidents observed, in a timely and accurate manner.

The boundaries of what a security officer may lawfully do, set by law, licence conditions, and employer policy. Actions beyond it, such as searching without consent or power, are unlawful.

A search permitted only because the person freely agreed after being told they may refuse, limited to the scope agreed, and never justified by a refusal alone unless other lawful grounds exist.

Entering or remaining on premises without lawful authority or contrary to an owner's instructions, which a security officer may address by requesting the person leave and seeking police help if they refuse.

Dishonestly taking property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the owner, a common offence officers detect through observation, access control, and CCTV evidence.

An act causing a person to apprehend immediate unlawful violence, or in some jurisdictions the unlawful application of force, relevant when deciding whether and how to intervene.

A lawful justification for using no more force than reasonably necessary to repel an imminent unlawful attack, ending once the threat ends and assessed on what the officer honestly and reasonably believed.