{"id":6326,"date":"2019-01-21T11:22:09","date_gmt":"2019-01-21T11:22:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/?p=6326"},"modified":"2025-05-16T13:01:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T13:01:35","slug":"what-rights-do-security-operatives-have","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/what-rights-do-security-operatives-have\/","title":{"rendered":"What Rights Do Security Operatives Have?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>A security operative is an invaluable asset. Without a security presence, many businesses and establishments would risk exposing themselves to disorder.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While a large part of a security operative\u2019s role involves customer service, there are crucial skills required to deal with hostile situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s within these hostile situations that the job can become highly dangerous and challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the recent incident involving Tudor Simionov, a security guard who tragically lost his life whilst working at a New Year\u2019s Eve party in London, many questions have been raised about the personal safety of security operatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In America, for example, security operatives can carry weapons such as guns. Whereas in the UK, they have no more rights than the average citizen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, this begs the question: what rights do security operatives have when a hostile situation arises?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-a-security-operative-make-an-arrest\">Can a security operative make an arrest?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes. But only as a citizen\u2019s arrest. It\u2019s also worth noting that any member of the public can make a citizen\u2019s arrest \u2013 under certain conditions. These conditions are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>You witness a person commit an indictable offence<\/li><li>Have reasonable grounds to suspect the person is committing an indictable offence<\/li><li>To prevent a person from causing loss or damage to property<\/li><li>To prevent a person from suffering physical injury<\/li><li>It is not practical for a police constable to make the arrest<\/li><li>To prevent a person from running away before the police constable arrives to assume responsibility for them<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-a-security-operative-carry-a-weapon\">Can a security operative carry a weapon?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No. Security guards in the UK are not allowed to carry guns, batons, pepper spray, tasers or other weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, a security operative can use handcuffs and should be trained in how to use them to prevent potential injury. Interestingly, any citizen in the UK can use handcuffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-a-security-operative-use-force\">Can a security operative use force?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, but only to a certain degree. They can use \u2018reasonable force\u2019 in accordance with The Criminal Law Act, 1967, which states: \u2018use as much force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or of persons unlawfully at large.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-can-a-security-operative-legally-search-a-person-s-possessions\">Can a security operative legally search a person\u2019s possessions?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes and no. A security operative cannot perform forced searches. They can only perform them with a person\u2019s consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if a security guard suspects a shoplifter, they cannot force a search. Instead, they can only detain the person until the police arrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, a door supervisor would need to seek permission before performing a search. However, if the customer doesn\u2019t cooperate, a door supervisor can refuse them entry. This condition is often a stipulation for many pubs and clubs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what do you think? If security operatives were to have similar rights to the police, would the streets be safer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-work-in-the-security-sector\">How to work in the security sector<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are interested in working in the security sector, whether it be as a Door Supervisor, Security Guard or CCTV Operative, you will need to obtain an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/licence\/door-supervisor-licence\">SIA Licence<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To obtain an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/licence\/door-supervisor-licence\">SIA Licence<\/a>, you will need to complete a course. Once you have completed the course, will you then be able to apply for an SIA Licence and work in the security sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking for jobs?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find the latest security jobs, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/jobs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Jobs Board,<\/a> which has 1,000+ jobs from the UK\u2019s best security companies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re on the hunt for a security job on the go, download the GuardPass app for all the latest jobs and more. The GuardPass App is available for download on the<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/pk\/app\/protect-by-get-licensed\/id1562863073?utm_campaign=You%27re%20Hired%20%C2%A3100%20Bonus&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsmi=204213381&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-80GAhjYc2S3SblJo0xHiB9_21pxGSbeSjSgbqK-D1Kt4mcvh7JaXbbcLNmwaW_0rCmaapZF_vI5G0loJdvT7uxCOLXWHLYoEs7x1EqMK0zTgDPi80&amp;utm_content=204213381&amp;utm_source=hs_email#?platform=iphone\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Apple App Store<\/a> or on the<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.getlicensed.protect.released&amp;utm_campaign=You%27re%20Hired%20%C2%A3100%20Bonus&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsmi=204213381&amp;_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8WV9sFVvVdaXZowt521IQjfhD3z6gSBuqyARdSsARheyYk8R7bKMd5feOH4-isT_7LKvPbCc0o2qOyCJrXWKfuXXzNn5uT5TUGZbIOj8umRovJb-w&amp;utm_content=204213381&amp;utm_source=hs_email\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Google Play Store<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twindow.hsFormsOnReady = window.hsFormsOnReady || [];\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\twindow.hsFormsOnReady.push(()=>{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thbspt.forms.create({\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tportalId: 20130333,\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tformId: \"fe68cd01-3d61-4919-9419-178379205aff\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\ttarget: \"#hbspt-form-1778322877000-0787748013\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tregion: \"na1\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t})});\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/script>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hbspt-form\" id=\"hbspt-form-1778322877000-0787748013\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A security operative is an invaluable asset. Without a security presence, many businesses and establishments would risk exposing themselves to disorder. While a large part of a security operative\u2019s role involves customer service, there are crucial skills required to deal with hostile situations. It\u2019s within these hostile situations that the job can become highly dangerous [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":129,"featured_media":34543,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[549,4794],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-door-supervisor","category-get-training"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.5 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Rights Do Security Operatives Have? - Get Licensed Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the UK security operatives have no more rights than the average citizen. So, what rights do security operatives have when a hostile situation arises? Read on to find out.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.get-licensed.co.uk\/get-daily\/what-rights-do-security-operatives-have\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Rights Do Security Operatives Have?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the UK security operatives have no more rights than the average citizen. So, what rights do security operatives have when a hostile situation arises? 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