Security Law and Powers Course (UK) 2026

1. Pergunta 1 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 2 de 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)
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: C. The magistrates' court

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

3. Pergunta 3 de 25

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

   • ABurglary
   • BRobbery
   • CSupplying illegal drugs
   • DCommon assault
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 4 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 5 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 6 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 7 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 8 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 9 de 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
   Mostrar resposta

   Resposta: 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. Pergunta 10 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 11 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 12 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 13 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 14 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 15 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 16 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 17 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 18 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 19 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 20 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 21 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 22 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 23 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 24 de 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)
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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. Pergunta 25 de 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
    Mostrar resposta

    Resposta: 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.

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