SIA CCTV Operator Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 of 25

   Under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, what is an employee's duty?

   • ATo carry out and sign every risk assessment for the site on their own each year
   • BTo write the company's safety policy
   • CTo pay for their own safety equipment
   • DTo take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work
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   Answer: D. To take reasonable care of themselves and others affected by their work

   Section 7 requires employees to take reasonable care and to co-operate with their employer on health and safety.

2. Question 2 of 25

   An incident report should contain:

   • AYour honest opinions about the people involved
   • BFacts: who, what, when, where, why and how
   • COnly the parts that make you look good
   • DGuesses about what might have happened
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   Answer: B. Facts: who, what, when, where, why and how

   A good report is factual, clear and complete. It may be used by the police, the courts or insurers.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which government department is the SIA accountable to?

   • AThe Ministry of Defence
   • BThe Department for Education
   • CThe Home Office
   • DThe Department for Transport
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   Answer: C. The Home Office

   The SIA is a non-departmental public body accountable to the Home Secretary.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What is the UK public advice if you are caught up in a firearms or weapons attack?

   • ADuck, Cover, Hold
   • BStop, Drop, Roll
   • CRun, Hide, Tell
   • DWait, Watch, Report
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   Answer: C. Run, Hide, Tell

   Run to a safe place if you can, hide if you cannot, and tell the police by calling 999 when it is safe.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What is the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS)?

   • AA scheme that lets companies employ unlicensed staff
   • BA compulsory licence that every security officer must hold in addition to their own
   • CA voluntary scheme that assesses security companies against a set of standards
   • DA police vetting service for venue customers
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   Answer: C. A voluntary scheme that assesses security companies against a set of standards

   The ACS is voluntary. Companies that meet its standards can show they are committed to quality.

6. Question 6 of 25

   A person asks a company for a copy of the personal data it holds about them. What is this called?

   • AA subject access request
   • BA disclosure notice
   • CA licence review
   • DA freedom of movement request
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   Answer: A. A subject access request

   People have a right of access to their own personal data. Organisations must normally respond within one month.

7. Question 7 of 25

   Which describes a quality of a good security operative?

   • AAggressive, so people are afraid
   • BQuick to argue with customers
   • CAlert, honest and calm under pressure
   • DWilling to bend the rules for friends and regular customers
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   Answer: C. Alert, honest and calm under pressure

   Clients and the public expect operatives to be observant, reliable, honest and professional.

8. Question 8 of 25

   What does "invacuation" mean?

   • AMoving everyone outside to the assembly point as fast as possible
   • BRefusing entry to new customers only
   • CClosing the venue for good
   • DMoving people to a safer place inside the building
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   Answer: D. Moving people to a safer place inside the building

   Invacuation may be safer than evacuation if the danger is outside, such as an attack or a hazardous release.

9. Question 9 of 25

   Which example is a civil wrong rather than a crime?

   • AAssault causing injury
   • BTheft from a shop
   • CTrespass on private land, in most cases
   • DRobbery
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   Answer: C. Trespass on private land, in most cases

   Simple trespass on land is usually a civil matter in England and Wales, so the remedy is to ask the person to leave. Theft, assault and robbery are crimes.

10. Question 10 of 25

    The Human Rights Act 1998 brings which rights into UK law?

    • AThe rights in the European Convention on Human Rights
    • BThe rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
    • CThe rights in the US Constitution
    • DOnly the rights of employers
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    Answer: A. The rights in the European Convention on Human Rights

    The Human Rights Act lets people rely on European Convention rights, such as the right to liberty (Article 5) and to respect for private life (Article 8), in UK courts.

11. Question 11 of 25

    What does the SIA check before granting a licence?

    • AIdentity, criminal record and the right training qualification
    • BOnly the applicant's height and weight
    • COnly whether the applicant owns a car
    • DOnly the applicant's school grades, work history and references
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    Answer: A. Identity, criminal record and the right training qualification

    The SIA's licence criteria include identity checks, a criminality check, the right to work in the UK and the relevant licence-linked qualification.

12. Question 12 of 25

    What is good customer service for a security operative?

    • ABeing polite, helpful and treating everyone fairly
    • BIgnoring questions that are not about security or safety
    • COnly helping people who are regular customers
    • DBeing rude so people respect your authority
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    Answer: A. Being polite, helpful and treating everyone fairly

    Good customer service builds trust and helps prevent conflict.

13. Question 13 of 25

    The ADVOKATE mnemonic helps you to:

    • ARemember the order of fire extinguisher colours
    • BPlan a patrol route
    • CFill in a licence application
    • DRecord the details of what a witness saw
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    Answer: D. Record the details of what a witness saw

    ADVOKATE stands for Amount of time, Distance, Visibility, Obstruction, Known or seen before, Any reason to remember, Time lapse and Errors.

14. Question 14 of 25

    What is "hostile reconnaissance"?

    • AInformation gathering by people planning an attack, such as filming security points
    • BA fire drill at a shopping centre
    • CA friendly visit by a council inspector
    • DA security patrol carried out by the venue's own staff to look for hidden weapons or bags
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    Answer: A. Information gathering by people planning an attack, such as filming security points

    Attackers often study a site first. Unusual interest in security, loitering or filming entrances should be reported.

15. Question 15 of 25

    You see someone filming the staff entrance and asking unusual questions about shift changes. What should you do?

    • APost their photo on social media
    • BIgnore it, because filming in a public place is always legal
    • CTake the person's phone by force
    • DEngage politely if safe, note details and report it
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    Answer: D. Engage politely if safe, note details and report it

    Reporting suspicious behaviour can disrupt attack planning. Record a description and pass it on quickly.

16. Question 16 of 25

    How should a mistake in a pocket notebook be corrected?

    • AScribble over it carefully so the wrong words cannot be read later in court
    • BCross it out with a single line, so it can still be read, and initial it
    • CUse correction fluid
    • DTear out the page
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    Answer: B. Cross it out with a single line, so it can still be read, and initial it

    Notebooks may be used as evidence. A single line shows the change was honest.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What is a good reason to hold a debrief after a serious incident?

    • ATo learn lessons and support the staff involved
    • BTo decide who gets a pay rise
    • CTo find out which member of staff was to blame for it
    • DTo avoid writing a report
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    Answer: A. To learn lessons and support the staff involved

    Debriefs help teams improve procedures and check that colleagues are coping well after stressful events.

18. Question 18 of 25

    What number can be used to call the emergency services in the UK?

    • A999 or 112
    • B101 only
    • C111 only
    • D911 only
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    Answer: A. 999 or 112

    Both 999 and 112 reach the emergency services. 101 is for non-emergency police matters and 111 for non-emergency medical advice.

19. Question 19 of 25

    Which of these jobs needs an SIA front-line licence when done under a contract?

    • ADriving a taxi
    • BServing drinks behind a bar in a licensed nightclub
    • CDoor supervision at licensed premises
    • DCleaning offices at night
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    Answer: C. Door supervision at licensed premises

    Door supervision, security guarding, public space surveillance (CCTV), close protection, cash and valuables in transit and key holding are licensable activities.

20. Question 20 of 25

    In Northern Ireland, which law gives private persons a power of arrest similar to section 24A of PACE?

    • AThe Licensing Act 2003
    • BThe Fire (Scotland) Act 2005
    • CThe Equality Act 2010
    • DThe Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
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    Answer: D. The Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

    Article 26A of the PACE (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 gives a power similar to section 24A in England and Wales.

21. Question 21 of 25

    Which class of fire involves cooking oils and fats?

    • AClass D
    • BClass F
    • CClass B
    • DClass A
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    Answer: B. Class F

    Class F fires involve cooking oils and fats, such as in a deep fat fryer. A wet chemical extinguisher is used on them.

22. Question 22 of 25

    Which change must an SIA licence holder tell the SIA about?

    • AA change of address or a new criminal conviction
    • BBuying a new mobile phone
    • CChanging their hairstyle
    • DGoing on holiday somewhere in the UK for a fortnight
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    Answer: A. A change of address or a new criminal conviction

    Licence conditions require holders to report changes such as name, address and convictions, cautions or charges.

23. Question 23 of 25

    In the NATO phonetic alphabet, which word represents the letter D?

    • ADover
    • BDog
    • CDavid
    • DDelta
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    Answer: D. Delta

    The phonetic alphabet uses Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and so on so that letters are not misheard on the radio.

24. Question 24 of 25

    You discover a fire. What should you do first?

    • AOpen all the windows
    • BCollect your belongings
    • CRaise the alarm
    • DFinish your patrol
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    Answer: C. Raise the alarm

    Raising the alarm warns everyone and starts the evacuation. Then call the fire service and follow the site fire plan.

25. Question 25 of 25

    During an evacuation, what is a security operative's role?

    • ALock the fire exits behind people
    • BLet people go back for their coats and bags if the fire seems small and far away
    • CUse the lifts to move people out faster
    • DHelp people leave calmly by the nearest safe exit and go to the assembly point
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    Answer: D. Help people leave calmly by the nearest safe exit and go to the assembly point

    Operatives guide people out, check areas if safe to do so, and report anyone missing to the fire service.

Keyboard: 1–4 to answer, Enter for the next question.

The real test: 70% in each multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 40 questions)