NAVTTC Security Guard NVQ flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Citizen's arrest

A private person may arrest someone reasonably suspected of committing an offence, then must hand the person to police promptly. The power does not include a right to search the body.

Reasonable force

Force that is necessary in the circumstances and proportionate to the threat. It ends as soon as resistance ends and is never used as punishment.

Duty of care

The legal obligation of a guard to act reasonably to avoid foreseeable harm to people on the premises. Breach can lead to civil negligence claims.

Negligence elements

Four elements must be proved: a duty of care existed, the duty was breached, the breach caused the loss, and actual damage resulted.

Post orders

Site-specific written instructions defining a guard's duties, patrol routes, hours, reporting lines and emergency contacts. They take priority over personal habit.

Confidentiality

The rule that client information, incident details and personal data are shared only with those who need to know or who have lawful authority.

Conflict of interest

A situation where a guard's personal gain or relationship could compromise their impartiality, such as accepting gifts from persons they monitor.

Use-of-force continuum

A staged response from presence and verbal direction through soft to hard physical control. Each step must be justified by the subject's escalating behaviour.

Search requirements

A search needs lawful authority or consent, should be same-sex where practicable, witnessed, and limited in scope. Body searches without consent are not permitted.

CCTV signage

Notices telling people they are under surveillance must be visible before they enter a monitored area. Covert recording needs a lawful, documented justification.

Fire triangle

The three elements needed for fire: fuel, oxygen and heat. Extinguishing a fire means removing at least one of these three elements.

PASS technique

Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side. Used for portable fire extinguishers.

Assembly point

The designated safe meeting place away from the building and upwind of smoke, where occupants are counted during an evacuation.

PEEP

Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan: an individual plan for occupants who cannot self-evacuate, such as wheelchair users or people with impairments.

DRABC

First aid sequence: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing, Circulation. It guides the initial assessment before emergency services arrive.

Lone working check-in

A procedure requiring a guard working alone to make regular contact with a supervisor or control room and carry a working communication device.

Tailgating

Unauthorised entry behind an authorised person. Prevented by one badge swipe per person, door closure before the next entry, and challenging unbadged entrants.

Visitor log fields

Recorded details: name, organisation, host, purpose of visit, time in, time out, badge number and vehicle registration.

Least privilege access

The principle that a person receives only the access rights needed for their role, reviewed when they change role or leave.

Fail-safe lock

A lock that releases when power is lost, allowing escape. Used on fire exit routes where egress must never be blocked.

Fail-secure lock

A lock that stays locked when power is lost, protecting secure stores and high-value areas. It is not used on escape routes.

Randomised patrol

A patrol with varying intervals and routes so that timing cannot be predicted. Fixed times let intruders plan around the guard's presence.

Patrol checkpoint

A physical tag, QR code or NFC point that the guard clocks at during a patrol, providing evidence that the route was actually walked.

Intruder confrontation rule

If an intruder appears violent, do not confront alone. Observe from safety, note description and direction, and call police and the supervisor.

Radio phonetic alphabet

Spelling words used to avoid confusion on radio: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, and so on.

De-escalation

Reducing tension by lowering the voice, slowing speech, keeping distance, avoiding pointing and offering choices instead of ultimatums.

SBAR handover

A structured shift handover: Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation. It is given verbally and confirmed in the written log.

Incident report structure

Record date, time, location, persons involved, what happened, action taken, witnesses and signature. Facts only, written in the first person.

Notebook correction

An error is corrected by striking through, initialling and dating the entry. Entries are never erased or rewritten after the fact.

Chain of custody

A documented record of who held evidence, when and where, from seizure to handover. Gaps in the record can make evidence unreliable.

Near-miss report

A record of an event that could have caused harm but did not. It is reported so the cause is corrected before a real injury occurs.

Two-factor access

Access control requiring two independent proofs, such as a proximity card plus a PIN or biometric. It reduces the risk of a lost card being used.