Bufordsecurity Private security guards perform many of the same activities as police officers. You may have already noticed.
That’s where the problems often start. People are beginning to believe that private security guards have the same rights and duties as police officers, but that is simply not the case.
He may wear a uniform, but he is not a civil servant. He operates as a private person with legal restrictions on arrests, investigations, self-defense, and carrying firearms.
So the real question is what can they and cannot do?
1. Authority to Arrest Citizens
Did you know that a private security guard has no more legal powers than a civilian? increase.
But what if it’s not a felony?
In that case, the crime must be committed or attempted in front of a civilian patrol guard. Police should be notified immediately as just touching an individual can be classified as an arrest.
If the arrested person has a weapon, the private guard has the authority to take it away. And don’t forget to create detailed reports in real-time with the help of Guardso. Award-winning guard tour appyou can also attach photos and videos seamlessly.
2. Authority to Use Reasonable Force
All private guards there are authorized to use reasonable force. And why shouldn’t they be allowed while working in situations that might call for it? FBI 2018 Crime Data The estimated violent crime rate was 368.9 per 100,000 inhabitants and the property crime rate was 2,199.5 per 100,000 inhabitants.
However, the ideal situation is to always call the police and force them to confront the person and attempt to arrest him/her. But is it always possible? of course not.
Private security guards may have to take matters into their own hands until the police arrive. First of all, before using force, several factors should be considered, such as:
- weight of sin
- Risk of harm to everyone
Then effectively communicate with that person verbally and record it using the Watch mode of the Guardso guard tour system. If that doesn’t work, you should consider other options for controlling the situation before using force.
Click here to see 4 de-escalation techniques every guard on private patrol needs to know!
3. Authority to enforce regulations on site
Private security guards are responsible for keeping both private property and personnel safe. Police officers, on the other hand, have the right to protect the entire community by enforcing the law and arresting suspects.
What you may not know is that in some jurisdictions private security guards can be commissioned or represented by delegating additional limited powers. This allows us to enforce the rules and regulations made by the owner, so long as they are not illegal.
For example, a private security guard patrolling a shopping mall can enforce rules such as no loitering. If this rule is broken, security may ask the person to leave the premises.
- If the person refuses, using the surveillance mode of the Guardso guard tour system, the guard will make a video as evidence, attach it to the report, and then use reasonable force to remove the person from the area. You can exclude people.
- If the person still resists and becomes violent in the process, the private guard should call the dispatcher immediately using the Guardso Guard Tour app until the police arrive.
what can they not do?
- You can’t ask them to go with you unless you get arrested.
- They may not search a person’s property unless there is a sign indicating that it is a condition of entry.
- Nor can you ban people from entering public land or ban people because you are violating anti-discrimination laws.
All private security guards must be fully aware of their powers and legal limitations in order not to exceed their powers. Do your guards know better?
