Security Law and Powers Course (UK) 2026
This course is for security officers and door supervisors in the UK who want to understand the legal limits of their job. It covers criminal law basics, citizen's arrest in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, reasonable force, weapons, trespass and searching. It is background knowledge only: front line security work needs an SIA licence and its licence-linked training.
W skrócie
Ten bezpłatny kurs obejmuje około 30 minut lekcji i test z 25 pytaniami. Uzyskaj co najmniej 80%, aby pobrać zaświadczenie o ukończeniu (prywatne, nieakredytowane). Sprawdzono z oficjalnymi źródłami 13 października 2026.
Czego się nauczysz
- Explain why security staff have the same legal powers as other citizens
- Apply the conditions for a citizen's arrest under PACE section 24A
- Compare arrest powers in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Describe how courts judge reasonable force under section 76
- Explain the law on trespass, offensive weapons and searching
Uzyskaj co najmniej 80%, aby pobrać certyfikat.
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Pytanie 1 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 2 z 25
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Odpowiedź: C. The magistrates' court
GOV.UK explains that magistrates' courts normally handle summary offences, such as most motoring offences and common assault.
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Pytanie 3 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 4 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 5 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 6 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 7 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 8 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 9 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 10 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 11 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 12 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 13 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 14 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 15 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 16 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 17 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 18 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 19 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 20 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 21 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 22 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 23 z 25
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Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 24 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: 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.
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Pytanie 25 z 25
Pokaż odpowiedź
Odpowiedź: 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.
Klawiatura: 1–4, aby odpowiedzieć, Enter – następne pytanie.
Co warto wiedzieć przed egzaminem
- In England and Wales, a citizen's arrest under PACE section 24A is only for indictable offences, and only when a constable cannot reasonably make the arrest instead.
- A person arrested must be told they are under arrest and why, at the time or as soon as practicable, or the arrest is not lawful.
- Northern Ireland has a matching power in Article 26A of the PACE (Northern Ireland) Order 1989; Scotland relies on limited common law powers.
- Force must be reasonable in the circumstances as you believed them to be; disproportionate force is not reasonable.
- CPS guidance says trespass on its own is not a criminal offence in England and Wales.
Najczęściej zadawane pytania
Do security officers have more powers than the public?
No. In most situations you have the same powers as any other citizen. Your SIA licence lets you work in a licensable role but gives no extra power to arrest, search or use force.
Can a security officer arrest someone for any crime?
No. In England and Wales, section 24A of PACE covers only indictable offences, and only when arrest is necessary for a listed reason and a constable cannot reasonably do it instead.
Can I search a customer who refuses?
No. Security staff can only search with consent, often as a condition of entry. If the person refuses, you can refuse entry, but you cannot force a search.
Does this course let me work as a security officer?
No. Front line security work in the UK needs a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), which needs a licence-linked qualification from an approved training provider. This course is background knowledge only.
Czy zaświadczenie jest akredytowane lub oficjalnie uznawane?
Nie. To prywatne zaświadczenie o ukończeniu, wyłącznie dla Twojej wiedzy. Nie jest uznawane, akredytowane ani zatwierdzone przez żaden rząd, organ licencyjny, regulatora ani instytucję edukacyjną i nie zastępuje żadnej licencji, certyfikacji ani szkolenia wymaganych przez prawo.
Źródła
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 24A
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, section 28
- PACE (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Article 26A
- Citizens Advice Scotland: arrest in Scotland
- Criminal Law Act 1967, section 3
- Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, section 76
- CPS legal guidance: trespass and nuisance on land
- GOV.UK: magistrates' courts