Patrolling, Surveillance and Incident Observation
What the domain tests
This domain tests planned patrol, observation and surveillance. The exam expects you to deter, detect and report, not to confront every suspicious person.
Core rules
- Patrol to a route and schedule but vary timing and direction where the post order allows, so patterns are not predictable. Use clocking points or check calls as required.
- Observe with all senses: doors, windows, lighting, alarms, smells, sounds, stock, vehicles and people. Note baseline conditions so changes stand out.
- Suspicious behaviour is specific: loitering near a restricted door, testing handles, carrying tools without a job, or repeatedly crossing a fence line. Avoid profiling by appearance alone.
- CCTV monitoring: know camera fields and blind spots, log camera faults, and preserve footage by not overwriting it after an incident.
- At an incident scene, secure the area, protect life, call for help, and avoid touching items. Record times, locations, descriptions and actions.
- Use a notebook for times and facts; write the report before memory fades.
Worked example
On a night patrol a guard finds a rear window broken, glass outside, and a chair moved inside. Reasoning: this may be a break-in, so he does not enter alone or touch the glass. He retreats to a safe point, calls the supervisor and police, secures the approach, notes the time and keeps a log of anyone entering or leaving until relieved.
Traps
Following a suspect into an unlit area, touching the window or handle, broadcasting unverified guesses, skipping a checkpoint because nothing happens, or failing to record the exact time.