SIA Door Supervisor Practice Test 2026: Practice test 5

1. Question 1 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
   Show answer

   Answer: A. A subject access request

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

2. Question 2 of 25

   Which is one of the reasons listed in section 24A of PACE that can make a citizen's arrest necessary?

   • ATo check the person's age for the venue
   • BTo make the person apologise to the victim
   • CTo stop the person making off before a police officer can take over
   • DTo get the person's name, address and phone number for the incident report
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   Answer: C. To stop the person making off before a police officer can take over

   The listed reasons are to prevent the person causing injury to themselves or others, suffering injury, causing loss of or damage to property, or making off before a constable can assume responsibility.

3. Question 3 of 25

   Which of these is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010?

   • AFootball team supported
   • BHeight
   • CReligion or belief
   • DHair colour
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Religion or belief

   Religion or belief is one of the nine protected characteristics. Refusing service because of one of them can be unlawful discrimination.

4. Question 4 of 25

   What is the safest approach to lifting a heavy box at work?

   • AAvoid lifting if possible; if not, assess it and lift safely
   • BTwist your body while you lift
   • CLift it quickly with a bent back
   • DAlways lift alone so that no one else can be injured if you drop it
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   Answer: A. Avoid lifting if possible; if not, assess it and lift safely

   Manual handling rules say to avoid hazardous lifting where possible, assess what cannot be avoided, and reduce the risk of injury.

5. Question 5 of 25

   What is a risk assessment?

   • AA test of how fast an operative can run
   • BA list of customers banned from a venue
   • CA report written only after an accident has already happened on site, for insurers
   • DA careful look at what could cause harm and what precautions are needed
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   Answer: D. A careful look at what could cause harm and what precautions are needed

   Employers must assess risks so they can remove hazards or reduce them as far as reasonably practicable.

6. Question 6 of 25

   Under data protection law, what is "personal data"?

   • AInformation about an identifiable living person
   • BOnly a person's bank account and payment card details
   • COnly information written on paper
   • DInformation about companies only
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Information about an identifiable living person

   Personal data includes names, images, CCTV footage and notes that can identify someone.

7. Question 7 of 25

   What colour are safe condition signs, such as fire exit and first aid signs?

   • AYellow
   • BRed
   • CBlue
   • DGreen
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Green

   Green signs show escape routes, emergency exits and first aid equipment.

8. Question 8 of 25

   Which law sets out the general duties of employers and employees for health and safety at work?

   • AThe Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
   • BThe Private Security Industry Act 2001
   • CThe Licensing Act 2003
   • DThe Equality Act 2010
   Show answer

   Answer: A. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

   The 1974 Act places duties on employers to protect workers and others, and on employees to take reasonable care.

9. Question 9 of 25

   You discover a fire. What should you do first?

   • AOpen all the windows
   • BCollect your belongings
   • CRaise the alarm
   • DFinish your patrol
   Show answer

   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.

10. Question 10 of 25

    What is the standard of proof in a criminal court?

    • ABeyond reasonable doubt
    • BOn the balance of probabilities
    • CMore likely than not
    • DPossible but not certain
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    Answer: A. Beyond reasonable doubt

    The prosecution must prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Civil cases use the lower standard of the balance of probabilities.

11. Question 11 of 25

    What does the UK threat level "severe" mean?

    • AAn attack is highly unlikely
    • BAn attack is possible but not likely
    • CAn attack is highly likely
    • DAn attack is likely
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    Answer: C. An attack is highly likely

    Low means highly unlikely, moderate means possible but not likely, substantial means likely, severe means highly likely, and critical means highly likely in the near future.

12. Question 12 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
    Show answer

    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.

13. Question 13 of 25

    In Scotland, what is the legal basis for an arrest by a private citizen?

    • ASection 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984
    • BThe Data Protection Act 2018
    • CCommon law
    • DThe Licensing Act 2003
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Common law

    PACE does not apply in Scotland. A citizen's arrest there is based on common law, generally for a serious crime the person has seen being committed.

14. Question 14 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
    Show answer

    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.

15. Question 15 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
    Show answer

    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.

16. Question 16 of 25

    In radio procedure, what does "over" mean?

    • AThe conversation has now ended
    • BThis is an emergency message
    • CPlease repeat your last message more slowly and clearly
    • DI have finished speaking and am waiting for your reply
    Show answer

    Answer: D. I have finished speaking and am waiting for your reply

    "Over" passes the turn to the other person. "Out" means the conversation has ended.

17. Question 17 of 25

    What three elements make up the fire triangle?

    • AGas, sparks and wood
    • BHeat, fuel and oxygen
    • CWater, air and fuel
    • DSmoke, flames and heat
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Heat, fuel and oxygen

    A fire needs all three. Removing any one of them puts the fire out.

18. Question 18 of 25

    Which law created the Security Industry Authority (SIA)?

    • AThe Data Protection Act 2018
    • BThe Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
    • CThe Licensing Act 2003
    • DThe Private Security Industry Act 2001
    Show answer

    Answer: D. The Private Security Industry Act 2001

    The Private Security Industry Act 2001 set up the SIA to license individuals and regulate the private security industry across the UK.

19. Question 19 of 25

    An arrested person tells you they feel unwell and have trouble breathing. What should you do?

    • AHold them more tightly
    • BTreat it as a medical emergency, call 999 and give first aid if trained
    • CWait for the police to arrive before doing anything else, in case it is a trick
    • DIgnore it, as they may be pretending
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Treat it as a medical emergency, call 999 and give first aid if trained

    You have a duty of care for anyone you detain. Breathing problems can be life-threatening.

20. Question 20 of 25

    When should an incident report be written?

    • AOnly if a customer makes a formal complaint later
    • BAt the end of the month
    • COnly if the police ask for it
    • DAs soon as possible after the incident
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    Answer: D. As soon as possible after the incident

    Reports written soon after an event are more accurate and carry more weight as evidence.

21. Question 21 of 25

    When working in a front-line role, where should an operative's SIA licence be?

    • AWorn where it can be clearly seen, unless the licence conditions allow otherwise
    • BKept in the employer's office safe
    • CLeft at home so it does not get lost
    • DKept safely inside a pocket or wallet and shown only if a police officer asks to see it
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Worn where it can be clearly seen, unless the licence conditions allow otherwise

    A condition of a front-line licence is that it is worn where it can be seen while working. This helps the public and the police identify licensed staff.

22. Question 22 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
    Show answer

    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.

23. Question 23 of 25

    In England and Wales, under section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, a person who is not a police officer may arrest without a warrant for:

    • ABreaking a venue's dress code
    • BAny offence, however minor
    • CParking offences only
    • DAn indictable offence
    Show answer

    Answer: D. An indictable offence

    Section 24A powers apply only to indictable offences, such as theft or assault causing injury, and only when further conditions are met.

24. Question 24 of 25

    What does ACT stand for in UK counter-terrorism?

    • AAlert Control Team
    • BArrest, Contain, Transfer
    • CAlways Check Tickets
    • DAction Counters Terrorism
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Action Counters Terrorism

    ACT is the police campaign encouraging people to report suspicious activity. ACT awareness e-learning is used in security training.

25. Question 25 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
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Alert, honest and calm under pressure

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

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

The real test: 70% in each main multiple-choice exam (72 questions and 50 questions); 80% in the physical intervention exam