PCG Sipahi Test study materials
PCG Sipahi Test study resources

PCG Sipahi Test cheat sheet

PCG Sipahi Test · Keep the key ideas within reach.

Quick reference

Security Fundamentals and Guard Duties

  • Three pillars of security: deterrence (visible presence, lighting, signage), detection (alarms, CCTV, patrols), response (guard intervention, escalation to police).

  • The guard's role is preventive and observational: observe, record, report, and deter. Guards do not investigate crimes, interrogate, or punish.

  • Duty-of-care chain: the guard owes reasonable care to persons on site; negligence requires a duty, a breach, causation, and damage.

  • Authority to arrest or detain comes from law and site contract, never from the uniform; a guard has no greater police powers than a private citizen.

  • Defence in depth: perimeter, building envelope, interior zones, and asset level; each layer assumes the previous one has failed.

  • Crime prevention triangle: a crime needs a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian; the guard is the capable guardian.

  • Post orders override habit: read the post orders at the start of every shift, and record any conflict between orders and what is actually done.

  • A guard must refuse unlawful orders (e.g. searching a person without consent or legal basis) and report the refusal in writing.

  • Incident report standard: who, what, when, where, how, actions taken, witnesses, and evidence preserved; facts only, no opinions or conclusions.

Quick reference

Access Control and Visitor Management

  • Access control principle: identify, verify, authorize, record. Skip any step and the control is broken.

  • Three authentication factors: something you know (PIN), something you have (badge/token), something you are (biometrics). Two different factors equal MFA; two passwords do not.

  • Tailgating (following through a door) and piggybacking (with consent of the badge holder) are the most common physical breaches; one person, one swipe.

  • Visitor log minimum: full name, ID checked, host name, purpose, time in, time out, badge number issued, and vehicle or equipment details.

  • Visitor badges must be visually distinct from staff badges, dated, and surrendered on exit; an unreturned badge is an incident.

  • Escorted vs unescorted access: unescorted access requires pre-approval, a signed non-disclosure or safety briefing, and a named host.

  • Contractors need a work permit for hot work, confined space, or roof access, plus a check of licenses and insurance before entry.

  • Key and card control: issue against signature, log serial numbers, retrieve on termination same day, and rekey or deactivate lost credentials immediately.

  • Anti-passback rules stop a credential being used twice to let a second person in; a violation must be logged, not simply reset.

Quick reference

Patrolling, Surveillance, and Reporting

  • Patrol types: fixed post, foot patrol, vehicle patrol, and random patrol. Random timing and route variation defeat observation by an intruder.

  • Clock or checkpoint systems (DALLAS, QR, NFC tags) prove presence; a missed checkpoint must be explained in the log, not backfilled.

  • Patrol route should cover high-value assets, vulnerable points (doors, windows, roof access), fire equipment, and blind spots of CCTV.

  • Observation technique: stop, look, listen, smell. Note baseline conditions at the start of shift so changes are detectable.

  • CCTV is a detection and evidence tool, not a substitute for patrols; the operator must know camera blind spots and privacy limits.

  • Recording evidence: preserve original footage, note camera ID, time-stamp offset, and chain of custody; do not edit or copy over the original.

  • Report writing: chronological, factual, objective, complete, and legible. Use exact times, names, and quotes; avoid 'seemed', 'probably', 'I think'.

  • A daily occurrence log (DOB) is a contemporaneous record; late entries must be marked with the actual time of writing.

  • Use the phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie) and 24-hour clock for clarity in radio and written reports.

Quick reference

Emergency Response and Incident Handling

  • Emergency priority order: life safety, incident stabilization, property protection; never reverse this order.

  • Fire response: raise the alarm, call the fire service, evacuate via designated routes, account for persons at the assembly point, never re-enter.

  • PASS for extinguisher use: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side; only use on a small fire with a clear escape route.

  • Fire classes: A (solids/wood/paper), B (flammable liquids), C (flammable gases), D (metals), F/K (cooking oils), and electrical; water is unsafe on B, F, and live electrical fires.

  • Bomb threat: stay calm, keep the caller talking, record exact words, background noise, accent, and time; do not use a radio near a suspected device.

  • Suspicious package indicators: unexpected origin, excessive postage, oily stains, protruding wires, unusual odor, rigid or lopsided shape; isolate and call the authorities.

  • First aid DRABC: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation; call emergency services early and use an AED as soon as it is available.

  • Incident command basics: one person in charge, clear span of control, and a written log of decisions and times.

  • Post-incident: secure the scene, preserve evidence, identify witnesses, and complete the report before the end of shift.

Quick reference

Physical Security and Site Protection

  • Perimeter layers: fence line, gate, lighting, intrusion detection, and response; each layer should delay an intruder long enough for a response.

  • CPTED principles: natural surveillance, natural access control, territorial reinforcement, and maintenance; design reduces crime opportunity.

  • Lighting standard: uniform coverage, no dark pools, and illumination on gates, parking, and entry points; poor lighting is a common liability finding.

  • Lock types: mortise, cylindrical, rim, and padlock; a lock is only as strong as its door, frame, and strike plate.

  • Alarm system parts: sensor, control panel, notification, and response; a guard must know the difference between a false alarm and a real activation.

  • CCTV coverage: entry/exit, cash or asset areas, loading bays, and perimeter; check recording retention and time-stamp accuracy.

  • Key control register: number, holder, location, date issued, date returned; audit regularly and rekey after loss.

  • Search rules: only with lawful authority or consent, same-sex search where required, witnessed, and documented; never conduct a strip search.

  • Site protection during works: hoarding, barriers, signage, and after-hours checks on scaffolding, plant, and fuel storage.

Quick reference

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

  • Use of force must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate; minimum force to achieve a lawful objective, and stop when the objective is met.

  • Self-defence requires an imminent threat, reasonable belief, and proportionate response; it is not retaliation.

  • Citizen's arrest / detention powers vary by jurisdiction; a guard must know the local rule, the grounds, and the time limit before acting.

  • Human rights and dignity: no degrading treatment, discrimination, or unnecessary restraint; record all restraint use and inform a supervisor.

  • Confidentiality: personal data, incident reports, and CCTV footage are disclosed only to authorized persons or under legal process.

  • Evidence handling: do not move, alter, or contaminate items; log who handled what and when (chain of custody).

  • Conflict of interest: refuse gifts, favours, or side work that could compromise impartiality; declare any relationship with a person on site.

  • Use of force report must state the threat, the warning given, the force used, and the injury or damage; failure to report is a disciplinary matter.

  • Guards must not search, detain, or use force as punishment; such acts expose the guard and the employer to criminal and civil liability.

Quick reference

Communication and Customer Service

  • Communication model: sender, message, channel, receiver, feedback; noise in any element causes misunderstanding.

  • Radio protocol: listen before transmitting, identify yourself, keep messages brief, use phonetic alphabet and clear text, confirm receipt.

  • Emergency call content: location, nature of incident, number of people involved, hazards, access route, and callback number.

  • Active listening: make eye contact, paraphrase, ask open questions, and confirm understanding before acting.

  • Customer service standard: greet, acknowledge, explain the rule, offer an alternative, and escalate if the person remains dissatisfied.

  • De-escalation: lower voice, slow speech, maintain distance, use the person's name, offer choices, and avoid arguing or touching.

  • Handover briefing: pass on incidents, outstanding issues, keys, equipment, and persons of interest; sign the handover log.

  • Report language: plain, factual, and free of jargon; avoid speculation and label opinions clearly as opinions.

Quick reference

Health, Safety, and Environmental Awareness

  • Risk assessment: identify hazard, assess likelihood and severity, control the risk, record, and review; controls follow the hierarchy of elimination, substitution, engineering, administration, and PPE.

  • PPE is the last line of defence; it must be inspected before use and replaced when damaged.

  • Manual handling: assess the load, keep it close, bend the knees, avoid twisting, and use equipment where available.

  • Slips, trips, and falls: keep walkways clear, clean spills immediately, use wet-floor signs, and report defective flooring or lighting.

  • COSHH basics: read the safety data sheet, use ventilation, store chemicals separately, and never mix cleaning products.

  • Lone working: check-in schedule, communication device, and a written procedure; a missed check-in triggers a welfare response.

  • Fire safety: know the alarm sound, escape routes, assembly point, and location of extinguishers and call points on every site.

  • Environmental duty: report spills, prevent drains contamination, segregate waste, and follow the site environmental plan.

  • Report every near miss and injury, however minor; a near miss is a free warning of a future accident.