Report Writing and Notebooks Course 2026
This course is for security guards who keep a notebook and write incident reports. It covers notebook rules, the 24-hour clock, the 5 Ws, writing facts instead of opinions, taking statements and keeping reports confidential.
Kort svar
Den här gratiskursen har lektioner på cirka 15 minuter och ett prov med 25 frågor. Med minst 80 % kan du ladda ner ett kursintyg (privat, inte ackrediterat). Kontrollerad mot officiella källor den 11 oktober 2026.
Det här lär du dig
- Keep a notebook that will stand up to review
- Record times correctly in the 24-hour clock
- Write a clear incident report using who, what, when, where, why and how
- Separate facts from opinions in your writing
- Take a simple witness statement
- Store and share reports only with authorized people
Få minst 80 % för att ladda ner ditt certifikat.
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Fråga 1 av 25
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Svar: D. Memory fades quickly, so early notes are more accurate
Details such as times, words and descriptions are lost fast. Notes made right away are the most reliable.
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Fråga 2 av 25
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Svar: D. A bound notebook with numbered pages
Bound, numbered pages show that nothing has been removed or added later.
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Fråga 3 av 25
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Svar: D. Draw a single line through it, initial it and write the correct information
A single line keeps the original readable, which shows you are not hiding anything.
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Fråga 4 av 25
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Svar: B. No, never
A missing page makes the whole notebook look unreliable, even if you had an innocent reason.
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Fråga 5 av 25
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Svar: B. Draw a line through it so nothing can be added later
Closing off unused space shows that the entry was complete when you wrote it.
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Fråga 6 av 25
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Svar: D. A pen with permanent ink
Permanent ink cannot be changed without leaving a mark.
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Fråga 7 av 25
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Svar: B. Write their exact words in quotation marks
Exact words are strong evidence. Your summary or opinion is not.
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Fråga 8 av 25
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Svar: B. 19:20
For times after noon, add 12 to the hour: 7 + 12 = 19.
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Fråga 9 av 25
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Svar: B. 12:45 a.m. (just after midnight)
In the 24-hour clock, the hour after midnight is written 00.
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Fråga 10 av 25
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Svar: A. The time the report was completed
The syllabus lists date, time, location, actions or behaviours, description of individuals, observations and time of completion.
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Fråga 11 av 25
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Svar: B. Who, what, when, where, why and how
The 5 Ws and how make sure a reader gets the whole picture.
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Fråga 12 av 25
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Svar: B. The man smelled of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet
Describe what you saw, heard and smelled. Let the reader draw conclusions from the facts.
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Fråga 13 av 25
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Svar: D. The cause only if the facts show it, never a guess
Guessing a motive can be unfair and can damage your report. Stick to what the facts show.
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Fråga 14 av 25
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Svar: A. A use of force report
The syllabus names incident reports, use of force reports and witness statements.
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Fråga 15 av 25
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Svar: C. A person’s own account of what they saw, in their own words
A statement records the witness’s account, not yours. The witness reads and signs it.
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Fråga 16 av 25
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Svar: C. Let the witness tell it in their own words, then have them read and sign it
Witnesses who hear each other can mix up what they saw. Keep each account separate and in the person’s own words.
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Fråga 17 av 25
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Svar: C. In time order, from first to last
Time order makes the report easy to follow and matches your notebook.
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Fråga 18 av 25
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Svar: C. Readers who were not there may not understand them
Police, lawyers and insurers may read your report. Plain words mean the same thing to everyone.
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Fråga 19 av 25
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Svar: A. It may be used for audits or as evidence in court
Ontario’s syllabus notes that reports may be needed for audits or as evidence in court.
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Fråga 20 av 25
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Svar: C. Through your employer’s approved system, only to authorized people
Ontario’s syllabus warns about problems with emailing confidential reports. Reports often contain personal information.
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Fråga 21 av 25
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Svar: D. Your signature
Signing shows the entry is yours and is finished.
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Fråga 22 av 25
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Svar: B. Add it as a late entry with the current time and say it is late
A clearly marked late entry is honest. Squeezing notes between lines looks like tampering.
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Fråga 23 av 25
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Svar: B. Read it again and check that it matches your notes
A final check catches errors and keeps your report consistent with your notebook.
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Fråga 24 av 25
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Svar: D. About 180 cm tall, thin, short black hair, red jacket, blue jeans, white running shoes
Specific, factual details help others find and identify the person.
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Fråga 25 av 25
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Svar: B. Someone who was not there and knows nothing about the event
If a stranger can understand the report without asking questions, it is clear enough.
Tangentbord: 1–4 för att svara, Enter för nästa fråga.
Bra att veta före provet
- Ontario’s guard training syllabus lists the basic report elements as date, time, location, actions or behaviours, description of individuals, observations and time of completion.
- The same syllabus says reports should contain factual information only and include who, what, where, when, why and how.
- Ontario’s syllabus names incident reports, use of force reports and witness statements as types of reports, and notes that reports may be needed for audits or as evidence in court.
- In court, a witness may be allowed by the judge to refresh their memory from notes made close to the time of the event.
Vanliga frågor
Can I use my notebook in court?
Often, yes. A judge may let you refresh your memory from notes you made close to the event. That is why notes must be complete, neat and made as soon as possible.
What if I make a mistake in my notebook?
Draw a single line through it so it can still be read, write your initials, and write the correct information. Never erase, use correction fluid or tear out a page.
Should I put my opinion in an incident report?
No. Write what you saw, heard and did. Instead of “he was drunk”, describe the signs: the smell of alcohol, slurred speech, trouble standing.
What is the difference between a statement and a report?
A report is your own account as the guard. A statement is another person’s account of what they saw, in their own words, which they read and sign.
Är intyget ackrediterat eller officiellt erkänt?
Nej. Det är ett privat kursintyg, bara för dina kunskaper. Det är inte erkänt, ackrediterat eller godkänt av någon myndighet, tillståndsmyndighet, tillsynsmyndighet eller utbildningsinstitution, och det ersätter inte någon licens, certifiering eller utbildning som krävs enligt lag.