Security Law and Powers Course (UK) 2026

1. Question 1 sur 25

   In the UK, what is the main legal basis for the powers a security officer can use on duty?

   • AThe same laws that give powers to any member of the public
   • BThe powers of a police constable, given by the employer
   • CA special warrant issued with every SIA licence
   • DRules written by the client in the assignment instructions
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. The same laws that give powers to any member of the public

   Security staff are not police. For example, their arrest power is the one section 24A of PACE gives to any person who is not a constable.

2. Question 2 sur 25

   Which court normally deals with summary offences in England and Wales?

   • AThe Supreme Court
   • BThe Crown Court
   • CThe magistrates' court
   • DThe Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. The magistrates' court

   GOV.UK explains that magistrates' courts normally handle summary offences, such as most motoring offences and common assault.

3. Question 3 sur 25

   Which of these does GOV.UK give as an example of a summary offence?

   • ABurglary
   • BRobbery
   • CSupplying illegal drugs
   • DCommon assault
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: D. Common assault

   Common assault that causes no significant injury is a summary offence. Burglary and drugs offences can be tried either way, and robbery is an indictable offence.

4. Question 4 sur 25

   In England and Wales, section 24A of PACE lets a person who is not a police officer arrest for which kind of offence?

   • AIndictable offences, including either-way ones
   • BAny offence at all, even minor parking offences
   • COnly offences against their employer's property
   • DSummary offences only
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. Indictable offences, including either-way ones

   Section 24A is limited to indictable offences. Under the Interpretation Act 1978, an indictable offence includes one that is triable either way, but not a summary-only offence.

5. Question 5 sur 25

   A man has just stolen from a shop and is walking quickly to a waiting car. No police are nearby. Which section 24A reason could make an arrest necessary?

   • AGetting the stolen goods photographed for the store's records
   • BStopping him making off before a constable can take responsibility for him
   • CFinding out his name and address so the shop can send him a banning letter
   • DMaking sure he cannot come back to the shop next week
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: B. Stopping him making off before a constable can take responsibility for him

   Section 24A(4) lists four reasons: to prevent injury to anyone, injury to the person, loss of or damage to property, or the person making off before a constable can take over.

6. Question 6 sur 25

   Under section 24A, what must also appear to be true before a citizen's arrest is lawful?

   • AA police officer cannot reasonably make the arrest instead
   • BThe client has agreed in writing that arrests may be made on site
   • CThe person has refused to give you their full name and home address
   • DThe person already has a past conviction for the very same offence
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: A. A police officer cannot reasonably make the arrest instead

   The power can only be used if it appears that it is not reasonably practicable for a constable to make the arrest instead.

7. Question 7 sur 25

   Under the Theft Act 1968, theft means dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with what intention?

   • ATo borrow it for a short while and then give it back
   • BTo move it to another part of the same building
   • CTo permanently deprive the other person of it
   • DTo keep it safe until the owner asks for it
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. To permanently deprive the other person of it

   Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968 needs dishonesty and the intention of permanently depriving the owner. The Act applies in England and Wales.

8. Question 8 sur 25

   A door supervisor moves from Manchester to Belfast. Which law sets out the citizen's arrest power in Northern Ireland?

   • AThe Private Security Industry Act 2001
   • BThe Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2016
   • CThe PACE (Northern Ireland) Order 1989
   • DThe Theft Act 1968
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. The PACE (Northern Ireland) Order 1989

   Article 26A of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 gives a power like section 24A, with the same conditions.

9. Question 9 sur 25

   Which statement about citizen's arrest in Scotland is correct?

   • APACE section 24A applies there in the same way
   • BSecurity officers have the same arrest powers as police
   • CPrivate citizens have only limited common law powers
   • DThere is no way for a private citizen to arrest anyone
   Voir la réponse

   Réponse: C. Private citizens have only limited common law powers

   PACE does not apply in Scotland. Citizens Advice Scotland explains that private citizens have some common law powers of arrest, to be used with great care.

10. Question 10 sur 25

    Public guidance in Scotland says a citizen's arrest is only likely to be reasonable when:

    • AYou are sure a serious crime happened, for example you saw it
    • BAnother customer has told you that a person might be planning a crime
    • CA person has been rude to you and used bad language at the door
    • DYou think a minor breach of the peace might happen later tonight
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. You are sure a serious crime happened, for example you saw it

    The crime should be more serious than a breach of the peace, and you should be sure it happened, for example because you saw it or were the victim.

11. Question 11 sur 25

    After a citizen's arrest, what does section 28 of PACE say the person must be told?

    • AThat they are under arrest and the reason why
    • BThat they will have to pay for any damage
    • CThat they must answer every one of your questions
    • DYour full name and the name of your employer
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. That they are under arrest and the reason why

    Section 28 says an arrest is not lawful unless the person is told they are under arrest, and the grounds, at the time or as soon as practicable.

12. Question 12 sur 25

    What should happen to a person after a citizen's arrest?

    • AThey should be held until the manager arrives next morning
    • BThey should be fully searched and questioned by staff
    • CThey should be handed to the police as soon as possible
    • DThey should be released once they say sorry to the victim
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. They should be handed to the police as soon as possible

    A private citizen's arrest only holds the person until police can take responsibility. Hand them over as soon as possible and keep them safe meanwhile.

13. Question 13 sur 25

    Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows reasonable force for which purposes?

    • AGetting back money that a customer owes to the business
    • BMaking a person leave a queue for being rude to staff
    • CPreventing crime or making or helping a lawful arrest
    • DPunishing someone who has already stopped attacking you
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. Preventing crime or making or helping a lawful arrest

    Section 3 allows such force as is reasonable in the circumstances to prevent crime or to make or assist a lawful arrest. It applies in England and Wales.

14. Question 14 sur 25

    Which law sets out reasonable force to prevent crime or make an arrest in Northern Ireland?

    • AThe Private Security Industry Act 2001, section 3
    • BThe Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010
    • CThe Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967
    • DThe Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. The Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967

    Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 matches the England and Wales rule on force in preventing crime and making arrests.

15. Question 15 sur 25

    Under section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, how is the reasonableness of force judged?

    • AOnly on how serious the injuries turned out to be
    • BOn the facts as the person genuinely believed them to be
    • COn what the injured person says happened to them
    • DOnly on what the CCTV footage shows happened afterwards, nothing else
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. On the facts as the person genuinely believed them to be

    Section 76 says force is judged on the circumstances as the person believed them to be, if that belief was genuinely held.

16. Question 16 sur 25

    A man who has been drinking wrongly believes he is about to be attacked. Can he rely on that mistaken belief under section 76?

    • AYes, any honest belief always counts, however it came about
    • BNo, not if the mistake was caused by drink he chose to take
    • CNo, because mistaken beliefs never count at all
    • DYes, as long as he was off duty at the time
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. No, not if the mistake was caused by drink he chose to take

    Section 76(5) says a person cannot rely on a mistaken belief caused by voluntary intoxication.

17. Question 17 sur 25

    Outside householder cases, what does section 76 say about force that was disproportionate in the circumstances?

    • AIt is reasonable if the person felt scared
    • BIt is reasonable if no one was badly hurt
    • CIt is not reasonable force
    • DIt is reasonable if the person was in uniform
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. It is not reasonable force

    Section 76(6) says force is not regarded as reasonable if it was disproportionate in the circumstances as the person believed them to be.

18. Question 18 sur 25

    Does the law say you must always retreat before using force to defend yourself?

    • AYes, unless you are wearing a uniform at the time
    • BNo, and the court is not allowed to consider it at all
    • CYes, force is only ever lawful after you have first tried to run away
    • DNo, but a chance to retreat is one factor the court considers
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. No, but a chance to retreat is one factor the court considers

    Section 76(6A) says a possibility of retreat is a factor to consider, not a duty to retreat.

19. Question 19 sur 25

    What does section 76 accept about a person defending themselves in a sudden emergency?

    • AThey are always protected by law, whatever force they use
    • BThey must wait for a manager to approve any force
    • CThey must measure their force exactly or be guilty
    • DThey may not be able to judge the exact force needed
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. They may not be able to judge the exact force needed

    Section 76(7) says a person may not be able to weigh to a nicety the exact measure of action, and honest, instinctive action is strong evidence it was reasonable.

20. Question 20 sur 25

    A guard wants to carry a home-made baton 'just in case' on public patrols in England. What does the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 say?

    • AIt is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse
    • BIt is only an offence if the guard actually uses it on someone
    • CIt is allowed if the client agrees in writing
    • DIt is allowed as long as the guard holds a valid SIA licence
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. It is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse

    Section 1 makes it an offence to have an offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse. A licence is not lawful authority.

21. Question 21 sur 25

    According to CPS guidance, is simple trespass on land in England and Wales a crime?

    • AYes, it is always a crime with a prison sentence
    • BNo, and an owner can never ask a trespasser to leave
    • CNo, it is not a criminal offence on its own
    • DYes, but only after dark on private land
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. No, it is not a criminal offence on its own

    The CPS says trespass is not of itself a criminal offence. It becomes criminal only as part of a specific offence, such as aggravated trespass.

22. Question 22 sur 25

    What turns trespass into aggravated trespass under section 68 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994?

    • AWalking across the land without asking the owner first
    • BRefusing to tell a guard their name and address when asked
    • CAn act meant to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt a lawful activity
    • DBeing on the land at night without carrying a written permit from the owner
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: C. An act meant to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt a lawful activity

    Aggravated trespass needs a trespasser to do an act intended to intimidate, obstruct or disrupt people carrying on a lawful activity.

23. Question 23 sur 25

    Under section 1 of PACE, who may stop and search people in public for stolen or prohibited articles?

    • AA police constable
    • BAny SIA-licensed security officer
    • CAny adult who sees a crime
    • DA store manager on their own premises
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: A. A police constable

    The stop and search power in section 1 of PACE belongs to constables. Security staff can only search with a person's consent.

24. Question 24 sur 25

    Searching a person's bag touches which right brought into UK law by the Human Rights Act 1998?

    • ARight to a fair trial (Article 6)
    • BFreedom of expression (Article 10)
    • CFreedom of assembly and association (Article 11)
    • DRespect for private and family life (Article 8)
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: D. Respect for private and family life (Article 8)

    Article 8 protects private and family life, home and correspondence. A search must have a lawful basis, such as genuine consent.

25. Question 25 sur 25

    The Equality Act 2010, with its nine protected characteristics, applies in which parts of the UK?

    • AScotland and Northern Ireland only
    • BEngland, Wales and Scotland
    • CEngland only
    • DThe whole UK, including Northern Ireland
    Voir la réponse

    Réponse: B. England, Wales and Scotland

    Section 4 of the Equality Act 2010 extends to England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own equality laws.

Clavier : 1–4 pour répondre, Entrée pour la question suivante.