Overall, security officers are tasked with securing the premises and personnel by staying on patrol, monitoring surveillance equipment, performing building inspections, guarding entry points, and verifying visitors. Completes reports by recording observations, information, occurrences, and surveillance activities.

The primary function of a security officer is deterrence.  The mere presence of a security guard is designed to disincentivize any potential criminal from committing a crime. If a would-be criminal enters a store and sees a guard on site, they may think twice about the crime.

Security checking is the pillar of maintaining the safety of an institution. Whether it is a school or a shopping mall, security guards play an instrumental role in providing thorough security to the place. Security guards are in charge of preventing theft, robbery, vandalism, trespassing, and other criminal activities. While security personal are allowed to take certain actions to perform their tasks seamlessly, they must remember that there are things that they cannot do.

Things security guards can do:

 Security personnel is in charge of the safety of an institution and thus they are empowered with certain authorities to prevent unwanted situations. Here is an outline of things that a security guard can do.

 Frisk a person

This is the most common task of a security guard. Be it a residential apartment or a cinema hall, security guards are deployed to check whether people are entering with unauthorized objects. As a security guard, you must ask a person first before frisking. In case you find an object, which is not authorized, inform the same immediately to security officers.

Ask a person to wait

A security guard needs to ensure that no unauthorized person is entering the facility. For example, as a security guard of a commercial facility, you must make sure that people who are entering have tickets and proper booking slips. If the person is unable to produce sufficient documents, you can make him or her wait and inform your supervisor.

Citizen’s Arrest if suspect is caught red-handed

An “arrest” includes the actual restraint of a person. But the restraint must be reasonable. But who can make arrests? Well, any police officer or person may arrest another person by restraining them, but only under certain circumstances.

A police officer may arrest a person when the police officer has reasonable cause to believe the person has committed a public offense or when he has an arrest warrant. If the public offense is a felony, the police need not have seen the offense occur to make an arrest. But if the offense is not a felony, the police officer must have seen the offense to make the arrest. It becomes much more complicated for the police officer in the case of domestic violence.

A security guard is merely a private person even though he wears a uniform. The security guard may arrest a person when that person has committed a felony, but only if a felony has actually been committed. If the offense is not a felony it must be committed or at least attempted in the presence of the security guard before a citizen’s arrest can be made. Whereas, the requirement is not so demanding for a police officer who can arrest a person for a felony as long as the officer has probable cause to believe the person committed the felony, whether or not the felony occurred.

A security guard can arrest criminals and culprits if they are caught in the act, red-handed. For instance, if you find a group of burglars trying to break in, you can arrest them immediately and take them into your custody. However, call your supervisor immediately after the arrest.

Assistance in Making a Citizen’s Arrest

Interestingly, the security guard can ask for assistance from other security guards or other persons in making the citizen’s arrest. A security guard can also call the police and ask the police officer to make the citizen’s arrest for the security guard, whether they are a part of protective services or otherwise.

The “Magic Words” in Making a Citizen’s Arrest

In making the citizen’s arrest, the security guard must tell the person being arrested that he is being arrested, the reason for the arrest and the authority to make the arrest. Does the security guard always have to go through this verbal list? Not if the person to be arrested is in the middle of the crime or the attempt to commit the crime or is being pursued immediately after the crime. But once the criminal is caught and being restrained, he must be told what offense he is being arrested for.

How clearly must the security guard articulate the basis for and nature of the citizen’s arrest? Not very. In a case where an intoxicated driver exiting a parking garage the wrong way breaking the entrance gate and hitting a security guard, a parking attendant signed a citizen’s arrest form indicating the arrest was for malicious mischief and vandalism only. The driver’s blood alcohol was over the permissible limit. When the driver challenged the arrest and the suspension of his driver’s license, it was held that the substance of the attendant’s actions constituted a valid citizen’s arrest even though he did not utter or write the “magic words.”

What to Do with Weapons in Making a Citizen’s Arrest

What if the person being arrested has a weapon? Can the security guard take it away? Yes, the security guard making the citizen’s arrest can disarm the person being arrested.

What to Do After Making a Citizen’s Arrest

Once the security guard has made the citizen’s arrest what does he have to do? The security guard must call the police immediately and turn the person arrested over to a police officer as soon as possible. The security guard must also inform the police officer of the offense the person committed and file a formal criminal complaint. If the police officer decides to release the person arrested by the security guard, the arrest is considered a detention.

Things security guards can’t do:

There are a few things that a security guard is not entitled to do. Please refer to the following points for a brief outline of the same.

Can’t use force

If you find someone suspicious, it is better to call your immediate officer. Do not use force until it is not in self-defense. For instance, spitting on the floor is an unauthorized act but not a crime. If you find a person spitting within the campus / premise, you can ask for fines. However, you cannot use force or show arms to the person. On the contrary, if you find someone trying to break in, you can use force to stop the criminal.

Can’t carry a firearm or any other kind of weapon, if not certified and authorized to do so

 Usually, only a few security guards are certified and allowed to carry firearms on duty. If you are not a certified and authorized to carry a firearm, you should not do it.

If you do and it is discovered this is a breach of policy and is illegal, in the State of Illinois, and action will be taken against you.

Can’t carry any other kind of weapon either, if not certified and authorized to do so. Most security agencies have a strict policy regarding use of force, including intermediate force options, including, batons, handcuffs, OC spray, and Tasers. Usually, only a few security guards are certified and allowed to carry any kind of weapon on duty. If you are not a certified and authorized to carry a firearm, you should not do it.

If you do and it is discovered this is a breach of policy and disciplinary action will be taken against you.