What Security Guards Can and Can’t DoÂ
Security guards have a lot in common with police officers. They usually wear uniforms, they often carry weapons (including firearms, in some cases), they protect people, property, and are seen as figures of authority, law, and order. However, a security guard is not a police officer. He or she is not a public servant. Instead, he works as a private citizen with limitations as to what actions he can and can’t carry out. This can mean that the legalities as to a security guard’s actions often become blurred. The following discusses the parameters within which qualified and reputable security guards are governed by law.What Security Guards Can and Can’t Do
-   Security guards can…
-   Security guards can’t…
Security guards can…
While there are some slight variations according to individual state laws, in general, a security guard can do the following:- Protect property: One of the most common roles security guards carry out is the protection of property. In such situations a guard is, in many cases, provided with delegated responsibilities in order to do this, allowing them to keep both the location and personnel on-site safe. While they can’t carry out illegal activities, they can ask people to move on (stop loitering), leave a premises, and even detain an individual if they have probable cause to suspect that a crime has been committed.
- Detain a person: Once again, if a security guard has reason to believe that a crime has taken place they’re allowed to detain an individual in a reasonable manner. This means that they can, if the situation demands it, use handcuffs, carry out a pat-down to determine if a weapon is being carried, and prevent the person from leaving the scene while waiting for the police to arrive.
-  Make a citizen’s arrest: A security guard can arrest a person under the same rights as every citizen has if a crime is witnessed and to ensure public safety. When such an arrest is carried out a guard is obliged to call the police as soon as is reasonably practicable. If the person arrested has a weapon then the guard is entitled to take it away.
- Use reasonable force: If, while carrying out their duties, a security guard is required to use force against a person to ensure the safety of others and/or property, then it has to be reasonable and justified. In the same manner as a police officer, a security guard would be expected to use other means, such as effective verbal communication, before resorting to force.
Security guards can’t…
- Detain people for an unlimited amount of time: They do not have the power to hold people indefinitely. A reasonable length of time would be considered how long it takes for the police to arrive or, in some cases, to carry out their investigations (such as if a shoplifting offense has been carried out).
- Use unreasonable force: To include, but not restricted to, the application of pain, choking, improper use of handcuffs, threatening and/or abusive language, and discrimination.