Use of Force Awareness Course (Australia): Lessons 2026

Lesson 1: The basic rule

Force means any physical contact you make with a person without their agreement, such as holding an arm or guiding someone out. Every state and territory has laws that limit when force is allowed. The idea is the same everywhere: force must be reasonable and necessary for a lawful purpose.

• Use force only when the law allows it: to defend yourself or others, for a lawful arrest, or to remove a person the law lets you remove.
• Use no more force than is needed.
• Stop as soon as the purpose is achieved, for example when the person stops fighting or leaves.
• Never use force to punish, get revenge or "teach a lesson".

Licence training teaches physical skills in person. For example, the Certificate II in Security Operations includes CPPSEC2106 Protect self and others using basic defensive techniques. This course does not replace that training.

Lesson 2: Self-defence and defending others

In NSW, if self-defence is raised, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that the person did not act in self-defence. In Queensland, whether the force was reasonably necessary is an objective test: it is judged by what was reasonably necessary, not only by how the defender felt.

Victoria's law notes that self-defence can cover defending another person, preventing or ending the unlawful deprivation of someone's liberty, and protecting property. The response must still be reasonable.

If your use of force is questioned, police may investigate, and in the end a court decides whether it was lawful. The court looks at all the circumstances, including the threat you faced, what you knew at the time and what other options you had.

Lesson 3: Force when arresting or removing someone

Arrest

In NSW, section 231 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 lets a police officer or other person making an arrest use such force as is reasonably necessary to make the arrest or to stop the person escaping. In WA, section 16 of the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 allows force reasonably necessary to use a power under that Act, and says force against a person is also subject to the Criminal Code.

Licensed venues

• NSW: under section 77 of the Liquor Act 2007, a person commits the offence of failing to leave only if they stay after being asked to leave. Police can be asked to turn the person out or help to do so, and may use reasonable force.
• Queensland: under the Liquor Act 1992, an authorised person may use necessary and reasonable force to stop a refused person from entering.
• WA: under the Liquor Control Act 1988, reasonably necessary force may be used to remove a person who will not leave when required.

Once the person is outside and leaving, the reason for force has ended. Let them go.

Lesson 4: Avoiding force

Most incidents can be handled without touching anyone. Victorian event guidance says crowd controllers can prevent problems rather than just reacting to them, and should use non-aggressive patron management early.

Options before force

• Talk calmly, listen and show you understand the person's view.
• Keep a safe distance and an exit route.
• Give the person choices and a way to back down without losing face.
• Call for another officer or your supervisor before things get worse.
• Step back and call police if there is a weapon or a serious threat.

Think about the whole picture: the person's size and strength, whether they have a weapon, how many people are involved, and whether they are moving away. A push followed by the person backing off is very different from an ongoing attack.

Lesson 5: Weapons, restraint risks and reporting

Weapons and equipment

A security licence does not allow weapons unless the law and your licence say so. A Queensland crowd controller licence does not authorise firearms, handcuffs or batons. In WA, crowd controllers may not carry any weapon while doing crowd control.

Restraint can kill

Holding a person face down, or putting weight on their back, chest or neck, can stop them breathing. This is called asphyxia. The NT regulator has issued a practice direction on asphyxia for security licensees. If a person says they cannot breathe, goes limp, or changes colour, release the pressure at once, call 000 and give first aid.

After any use of force

1. Check that everyone is safe and get first aid or an ambulance for anyone hurt.
2. Tell your supervisor and, if needed, police.
3. Write detailed notes as soon as you can: what happened, why force was needed, what force you used and when it stopped.
4. Keep any CCTV and witness details.

Some places require extra records. At WA licensed premises, when force is used to restrain, remove or stop someone re-entering, the licensee must make a written statement giving the reason and naming each crowd controller who made physical contact. The licensee must ask each of them for an account, and police can inspect the register.