Foot Patrol Techniques Course: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: Why we patrol on foot

A foot patrol lets you see, hear and smell what a camera or vehicle patrol might miss. It has three goals: observe what is happening, deter crime by being seen, and report problems so they get fixed.

Patrols can be inside or outside, and many sites use an electronic guard tour system. You scan a tag or code at each checkpoint, which records that you were there at a certain time. Checkpoints prove the patrol was done, but the real work is what you notice between them.

Inside and outside patrols

Type	Typical focus
Interior	Doors, hallways, stairwells, washrooms, mechanical rooms, fire equipment and people in closed areas.
Exterior	Fences, gates, lighting, parked vehicles, loading docks, roofs you can see from the ground and signs of damage.
Parking areas	Vehicles with broken windows or left running, people trying car doors, poor lighting and icy surfaces.

Compare a predictable patrol with an irregular one.

A predictable patrol: the same loop every time, which is easy for someone to watch and avoid.
An irregular patrol: a changing route and order, which is much harder to predict.

Lesson 2: Before you set out

Read your post orders and the pass-down log before your first patrol. They tell you about special instructions and anything left from the last shift.

Equipment checklist

Radio: charged, on the right channel, and a radio check done with control.
Charged phone, notebook and pen.
Flashlight, plus spare batteries for long night shifts.
Keys and access cards you are responsible for.
High-visibility vest for parking lots and roads.
Footwear with good grip, and clothing for the weather.

Do a careful first patrol to learn what normal looks like that day. This baseline helps you notice changes on later rounds.

Lesson 3: Patrol techniques

Walk at a steady pace and stop now and then to look and listen. Use all five senses: the sound of breaking glass, the smell of smoke or a door that feels warm can warn you of trouble.

Check	What to look for
Doors and windows	Try handles of doors that should be locked. Look for pry marks and broken glass.
Fire safety	Fire doors closed, not propped. Exits clear. Extinguishers in place.
Hazards	Spills, ice, trip hazards, leaks, damaged wiring, lights out.
People	Anyone in a closed area or acting in a way that does not fit.
Vehicles	Cars parked in fire lanes, left running or with broken windows.

Night patrols

Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to the dark, and use your flashlight only when you need it.
Scan a dark room with your flashlight from the doorway before you walk in.
Do not stand in a lit doorway, where you are easy to see but cannot see out.

Write the time of each finding in the 24-hour clock. For example, 2:15 a.m. is 02:15 and 2:15 p.m. is 14:15.

Lesson 4: Dealing with what you find

Security problems

If a door shows signs of forced entry, do not go in. Move to a safe spot where you can watch, call police and control, and keep people away. If you see someone trying car doors or acting suspiciously, watch from a safe distance, note a description and report it.

Hazards

Fix simple problems when it is safe: remove a wedge from a fire door, close it and report it.
Have boxes or carts moved away from fire exits right away. Never lock or chain an exit.
Warn people away from spills and report them for cleanup.
Keep people away from water near electrical equipment and get qualified help.

People

Most people you meet are staff, visitors or someone who is lost. Greet them, say who you are and ask if you can help. Trespass on private property is mainly governed by provincial law, such as Ontario’s Trespass to Property Act and Alberta’s Trespass to Premises Act. If someone must leave, explain the rule calmly, give them a chance to go and record what happened.

If you find someone collapsed, make sure the area is safe, call 911 and give first aid only if you are trained.

Reporting what you find

Report urgent problems by radio or phone right away, then record them in your notebook. For each finding, write the time, the exact location, what you saw, what you did and who you told. A problem that is only in your head is not reported. If you fixed something, such as closing a fire door, still record it so the client can stop it happening again.

Lesson 5: Your own safety

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says you are working alone when no one else can see or hear you. Many foot patrols are done alone, so check-ins matter.

In BC, the employer’s written procedure must set how often checks happen and what to do if you cannot be reached. Higher-risk work needs shorter intervals, and there is a check at the end of the shift.
Tell control your route before you set out and check in when asked. If you miss a check-in, control should try to reach you and then send help, so never skip one or check in late without a reason.
Keep your radio and phone charged and within reach, not left in a bag or vehicle.
Keep an exit route in mind and do not let anyone block it.
On ice, take short, flat-footed steps and keep your hands free.
Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, step back and call for help.