Legal Powers and Arrest Course (Australia) 2026

1. Question 1 of 25

   Where do a security officer's arrest powers in Australia mainly come from?

   • ASpecial police powers that come with the security licence
   • BThe security company's own code of conduct
   • CThe rules written in the client's site instructions
   • DThe same state laws that let any person make an arrest
   Show answer

   Answer: D. The same state laws that let any person make an arrest

   Arrest laws such as WA's Criminal Investigation Act 2006 s 25 speak of "any person". A security licence lets you work in security but does not give police powers.

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which NSW law contains the power for a person other than a police officer to arrest without a warrant?

   • ALaw Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002
   • BInclosed Lands Protection Act 1901
   • CLiquor Act 2007
   • DSecurity Industry Act 1997 and Security Industry Regulation 2016
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002

   Section 100 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 sets out arrest without a warrant by people other than police officers.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Under section 100 of the NSW Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002, which situation allows a citizen's arrest?

   • AThe person has just committed an offence
   • BThe person looks like someone banned before
   • CThe person was rude to staff last week
   • DThe person refuses to tell you their name
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The person has just committed an offence

   NSW s 100 allows an arrest if the person is in the act of committing an offence, has just committed one, or has committed a serious indictable offence not yet tried.

4. Question 4 of 25

   In NSW, what must you do after making a citizen's arrest?

   • AHold the person at the site until the manager decides whether to call anyone about the matter
   • BTake them before an authorised officer, such as a magistrate, as soon as reasonably practicable
   • CAsk the person to sign a written statement admitting the offence before any police are called
   • DTake the person's photo and details, then let them go home if they promise to come back later
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Take them before an authorised officer, such as a magistrate, as soon as reasonably practicable

   NSW s 100 requires the arrested person, and any property found on them, to be taken before an authorised officer as soon as reasonably practicable. Section 3 defines an authorised officer as a magistrate, a Local Court registrar or an authorised court employee.

5. Question 5 of 25

   In Victoria, you find someone committing an offence. Under section 458 of the Crimes Act 1958, what else must you reasonably believe before arresting them?

   • AThat the person has a criminal record for the same offence
   • BThat the person cannot pay for the damage they caused
   • CThat the person is not a regular customer of the site
   • DThat arrest is necessary, for example to keep public order
   Show answer

   Answer: D. That arrest is necessary, for example to keep public order

   Victoria s 458(1)(a) requires a reasonable belief that arrest is necessary, such as to ensure court attendance, keep public order, stop the offence continuing, or for safety or welfare.

6. Question 6 of 25

   For a citizen's arrest under Victoria's section 458, a breach of which of these does NOT count as an "offence" unless an Act says so?

   • AAn assault on a staff member at work
   • BA theft under the Crimes Act
   • CWilful damage to property
   • DA regulation or a council by-law
   Show answer

   Answer: D. A regulation or a council by-law

   Section 458(2) says "offence" covers common law offences and breaches of Acts, but not breaches of regulations, by-laws or similar instruments unless an Act says otherwise.

7. Question 7 of 25

   In Victoria, a person arrested by a member of the public must be dealt with in which way?

   • ADriven home by the security officer and reported to police the next morning
   • BReleased as soon as their name and address have been written in a notebook
   • CKept at the venue until the security company's office opens the next day
   • DTaken before a bail justice or the Magistrates' Court, or handed to police
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Taken before a bail justice or the Magistrates' Court, or handed to police

   Section 458(1) says the arrested person is to be taken before a bail justice or the Magistrates' Court, or given to a police officer for that purpose.

8. Question 8 of 25

   In Victoria, you arrested someone for a summary offence to stop it continuing. Before any charge, the reason for the arrest no longer applies. What does section 458 require?

   • AHold the person until the client says they can go
   • BRelease the person, or make sure they are released
   • CMake the person wait one hour before they can leave
   • DKeep holding the person until police finally arrive
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Release the person, or make sure they are released

   Section 458(3) says a person arrested for a summary offence may only be held while the reason for the arrest continues, and must then be released.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Besides finding someone committing an offence, when else does Victoria's section 458 let any person arrest without a warrant?

   • AWhen the person has unpaid fines from earlier in the year
   • BWhen a police officer with the power to arrest tells them to
   • CWhen the person is on the venue's list of banned patrons
   • DWhen the client asks for the arrest in writing before it happens
   Show answer

   Answer: B. When a police officer with the power to arrest tells them to

   Section 458(1)(b) allows any person to arrest someone when instructed to by a police officer who has power to arrest that person.

10. Question 10 of 25

    In WA, what is an "arrestable offence" for a citizen's arrest?

    • AAn offence whose penalty is or includes imprisonment
    • BAny breach of the venue's house rules or dress code
    • CAny offence with a fine of more than one thousand dollars
    • DOnly an offence against a person, such as an assault
    Show answer

    Answer: A. An offence whose penalty is or includes imprisonment

    Section 25(1) of WA's Criminal Investigation Act 2006 defines an arrestable offence as one whose statutory penalty is or includes imprisonment.

11. Question 11 of 25

    What level of belief does WA's Criminal Investigation Act 2006 require before any person may arrest a suspect?

    • AWritten approval from the venue manager or the client before the arrest is made
    • BProof beyond reasonable doubt that they committed an offence earlier that same day
    • CA reasonable suspicion that they committed or are committing an arrestable offence
    • DA signed statement from a witness saying they saw the whole offence happen
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A reasonable suspicion that they committed or are committing an arrestable offence

    WA s 25(2) lets any person arrest someone they reasonably suspect has committed, or is committing, an arrestable offence.

12. Question 12 of 25

    In WA, after making a citizen's arrest, what must you do as soon as practicable?

    • AGet a police officer to attend, or take the person to a police officer
    • BHold the person until the end of your shift, then let them go
    • CTake the person to your security company's office for a full interview
    • DSearch the person and their car for any other stolen property
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Get a police officer to attend, or take the person to a police officer

    WA s 25(5) requires the arrester to arrange for a police officer to attend, or to take the suspect and anything relevant to a police officer, as soon as practicable.

13. Question 13 of 25

    In WA, does the citizen's arrest power by itself let you enter a house or a car to find the suspect?

    • ANo, it does not give a right to enter a place or vehicle
    • BYes, if the suspect was seen going inside in the last hour
    • CYes, as long as you knock and say you are from security
    • DYes, but only during daylight hours and with a witness
    Show answer

    Answer: A. No, it does not give a right to enter a place or vehicle

    WA s 25(4) says a person is not entitled, only because of the arrest power, to enter a place or vehicle where they suspect the suspect is.

14. Question 14 of 25

    In WA, police arrive after your citizen's arrest and decide not to arrest the person. What happens?

    • AThe person must stay until morning
    • BYou must take the person to court
    • CYou must keep holding the person anyway
    • DThe person stops being under arrest
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The person stops being under arrest

    WA s 25(7) says that if the police officer does not arrest the suspect, the suspect ceases to be under arrest.

15. Question 15 of 25

    In Queensland, which law sets out when any person may arrest someone they find committing an offence?

    • ASummary Offences Act 2005
    • BSecurity Providers Act 1993
    • CLiquor Act 1992, section 165A
    • DCriminal Code, section 546
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Criminal Code, section 546

    Section 546 of Queensland's Criminal Code makes it lawful for any person who finds another committing certain offences to arrest them without a warrant.

16. Question 16 of 25

    Under the NSW Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901, who can ask a person to leave inclosed lands?

    • AOnly the owner, and only by giving them a written notice
    • BAny member of the public who is visiting the same place
    • CThe owner, the occupier or the person apparently in charge
    • DOnly a police officer who is on duty in that local police area
    Show answer

    Answer: C. The owner, the occupier or the person apparently in charge

    Section 4 makes it an offence to remain after being asked to leave by the owner, occupier or person apparently in charge of the lands.

17. Question 17 of 25

    Which place counts as "prescribed premises", with a higher penalty, under the NSW Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901?

    • AA licensed club
    • BAn office tower
    • CA hospital
    • DA sports stadium
    Show answer

    Answer: C. A hospital

    Prescribed premises include land used with schools, child care services, hospitals and nursing homes. Offences there carry a higher maximum penalty.

18. Question 18 of 25

    In NSW, a person stays on inclosed lands after being asked to leave and behaves in a way reasonable people would find offensive. What does section 4A say?

    • AIt is lawful if the person has paid for entry
    • BIt is a civil matter that police cannot act on
    • CIt is only an offence if police asked them to go
    • DIt is a separate offence, with a higher penalty
    Show answer

    Answer: D. It is a separate offence, with a higher penalty

    Section 4A of the Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901 creates an offence of offensive conduct after being asked to leave, with a higher maximum penalty than s 4.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Section 11 of Queensland's Summary Offences Act 2005 makes it an offence to unlawfully enter or remain in which places?

    • AOnly government buildings, schools and police stations
    • BA dwelling or its yard, or a place used for a business purpose
    • COnly farms and rural land that are fenced on every side
    • DOnly places that display a "no trespassing" sign at the front gate
    Show answer

    Answer: B. A dwelling or its yard, or a place used for a business purpose

    Section 11 covers unlawfully entering or remaining in a dwelling or its yard, and a place, or its yard, used for a business purpose.

20. Question 20 of 25

    NSW Government guidance says a licensed venue can refuse someone entry without giving a reason. What limit applies?

    • AThe person must be given a written refusal notice
    • BThe refusal must be approved by police in advance
    • CThe venue must refund the person's travel costs
    • DThe refusal must not be unfair or discriminatory
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The refusal must not be unfair or discriminatory

    NSW guidance on removing and banning customers says venues may refuse entry without a reason, but refusals must not be unfair or discriminatory.

21. Question 21 of 25

    A person refuses a bag check that is a condition of entry. No law gives you a power to search them. What can you generally do?

    • AHold the person until police arrive to search
    • BSearch the bag anyway because it is your job
    • CTake the bag from them and search it outside
    • DRefuse them entry and record what happened
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Refuse them entry and record what happened

    NSW guidance says venues can refuse entry without giving a reason, as long as the refusal is not unfair or discriminatory. The arrest laws give no general power to search, so if a person refuses a bag check, you can refuse entry.

22. Question 22 of 25

    In NSW, how much force may a person use when making a lawful arrest?

    • AAs much force as the client allows in the site's written instructions
    • BOnly force reasonably necessary to make the arrest or stop an escape
    • CEnough force to make sure the person cannot ever come back
    • DAny force needed to make the person admit what they have done
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Only force reasonably necessary to make the arrest or stop an escape

    Section 231 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 allows force that is reasonably necessary to make the arrest or prevent escape after arrest.

23. Question 23 of 25

    A shoplifter has already left the store and is walking away. Nobody is in danger. What is usually the safest choice?

    • ANote a good description and report it to police
    • BChase the person into the street to arrest them
    • CBlock the person's car so they cannot drive off
    • DFollow the person home to find out their address
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Note a good description and report it to police

    Arrest laws say a person "may" arrest; they do not require it. An arrest is a last resort, and observing and reporting is often safer.

24. Question 24 of 25

    In NSW, how does SLED view a licensee who refuses to help police with their enquiries about an offence they saw?

    • AAs a private choice that has no effect on the person's security licence
    • BAs acting against the public interest, which can put the licence at risk
    • CAs acceptable as long as the client did not ask the licensee to help them
    • DAs a matter for the employer only, never for the licensing regulator
    Show answer

    Answer: B. As acting against the public interest, which can put the licence at risk

    SLED says refusing to assist police with their enquiries is contrary to the public interest and can lead to a show cause notice and possible licence revocation.

25. Question 25 of 25

    After you hand an arrested person to police, what should you do next?

    • APost a description of the person on social media for others
    • BWrite detailed notes and give police a statement if asked
    • CThrow away your notes once the police have taken the person
    • DTell the person's friends what happened so they can help
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Write detailed notes and give police a statement if asked

    Licensees are expected to share information about offences they witness with police. Notes made at the time support your statement.

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