Professional Conduct and Ethics: Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: Why ethics matter in security

Security guards are trusted with keys, alarm codes, private information and the safety of people. Clients and the public expect guards to be honest, fair and lawful, even when no one is watching. One guard's misconduct can hurt a client, a security company and the reputation of every guard.

Provinces write these expectations into law. Ontario has a Code of Conduct regulation (O. Reg. 363/07) under its Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005. British Columbia's Security Services Regulation sets out a code of conduct in section 14. Here is what BC's code requires, in plain words:

BC code of conduct (s. 14)	What it means on the job
Act honestly and with integrity	Tell the truth in notes, reports and conversations
Obey all federal, provincial and municipal laws	No law-breaking, on or off a site
Treat all persons equally, without discrimination	Base decisions on behaviour, not on who someone is
No profane, abusive or insulting language or actions	Stay polite, even under pressure
No unnecessary force	Use force only when lawful, reasonable and needed
Respect privacy and keep work information confidential	Share information only when the work or the law requires it
Cooperate with police when the law requires it	Give facts and evidence when required
Not unfit for duty through alcohol or drugs	Arrive and stay fit to work
Do not help another licensee break the rules	No covering for others
No wilful or negligent false statements or complaints	Be accurate and careful
Do not misrepresent your licence or legal authority	Never claim powers you do not have

Lesson 2: Honesty and integrity

Your notes and reports may be read by clients, police, insurers and courts. They must be true and complete. If you make a mistake, correct it openly: draw a single line through it, initial it and add the correction, so the original can still be read. Never tear out pages or use correction fluid.

Never sign a false record, such as signing in a co-worker for a shift they did not work or marking a patrol as done when it was not. That is dishonest and, in BC, helping another licensee break the rules is itself a breach of the code.

Be clear that you are security, not police. Under section 130 of the Criminal Code, falsely claiming to be a peace officer, or wearing a badge or uniform likely to make people think you are one, is an offence.

Lesson 3: Conflicts of interest and gifts

A conflict of interest happens when your personal interests could affect, or seem to affect, how you do your job. For example, you may be asked to deal with a close friend's car in a no-parking zone, or a relative may apply for a job at your site. Tell your supervisor and let someone else decide.

Gifts and favours can create a feeling that you owe someone. Follow your employer's gift policy. If you are not sure, politely decline or ask a supervisor.

Some offers are crimes. Under section 426 of the Criminal Code (secret commissions), an employee who corruptly accepts a benefit for doing something, or for showing favour, in their employer's business commits an offence, punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The same applies to the person who offers it.

Lesson 4: Fitness for duty and licence duties

Arrive fit for duty: rested, sober and ready to stay alert.
Never sleep on post. If you are too tired to stay alert, tell your supervisor.
Keep personal phone use to breaks unless your post orders allow it.
Wear your uniform properly and look after equipment.

Your licence

Licence rules differ by province. In British Columbia, for example, you must carry your physical licence card while working (a photo does not count), show it to anyone who asks (with limited exceptions such as armoured car guards and door security at liquor establishments), and report charges, convictions, address changes and legal name changes. In Alberta, Security Programs policy requires a licensee to report a Criminal Code charge or conviction within 24 hours, and other changes such as a new address within 30 days.

Lesson 5: Respect and confidentiality

Treat everyone with respect: visitors, residents, people experiencing homelessness, suspects and co-workers. Stay polite when people are rude. Use force only when it is lawful and necessary.

Keep work information confidential. Do not talk about incidents, residents or clients with friends, and never post photos or videos from work on social media. Posting an incident breaks confidentiality and privacy and can harm a police investigation.

Before you share anything

Is it part of my job to share it, and is the person entitled to receive it?
Does my employer's policy or the law require or allow it?
Am I sharing only what is needed, and nothing more?
Would the people involved expect it to be kept private?

Lesson 6: Making ethical decisions

When you are not sure what to do, work through these questions:

Is it legal?
Does it follow my licence conditions, my employer's policy and my post orders?
Is it fair to everyone involved?
Would I be comfortable if this action appeared in my report or in the news?
If I am still unsure, who can I ask? (Usually your supervisor.)

Example: a manager you know well asks you to leave a side door unlocked overnight so a friend can drop off boxes. It may seem harmless, but it breaks post orders and leaves the site open. The honest answer is to say you cannot do it without approval and to ask your supervisor.

Reporting misconduct

If you see a co-worker stealing, lying in a report, using unnecessary force or working while impaired, report it through the proper channel, usually your supervisor. Covering up misconduct makes you part of it.