The Duties and Responsibilities of a Security Guard

Security Guards are requested by many different types of client and employers. In Ontario, the security industry is governed by the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, which states that a Security Guard is someone that “performs work, for remuneration, that consists primarily of guarding or patrolling for the purpose of protecting persons or property” [Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, c.34, s.2 (4)]. This Law further details that any person performing such work must obtain and hold a valid license to act as a Security Guard.

There are many different types of individuals working in the Security Services Industry, each with their own unique place within the overall structure. Law enforcement personnel primarily enforce federal and provincial laws, as well as provide logistical assistance during emergency situations. In recent years, there has been a shift from this public form of law enforcement to the private sector, as the Police services agencies are dealing with ever increasing volumes of incidents as populations increase. The Security Guard has now become integral to the protection of citizens in Canada.

Some of the more specialized roles in the Private Security sector include Private Investigators, whose primary task is the collection of information about the whereabouts and activities of specific individuals, and Loss Prevention Specialists, who actively identify and apprehend criminal perpetrators. Mobile Patrol Services are another example of the shift from public to private security. These uniformed guards respond to alarms and patrol large areas in vehicles, tasks traditionally assigned to Law Enforcement personnel, and provide a lower cost solution to Police response, something which can be quite costly for the property owner.

An Overview Of Duties And Responsibilities

Security Guards protect people, property and information. The duties and responsibilities of a guard are extremely varied from site to site. In order to satisfactorily undertake these responsibilities, a Security Guard must understand the importance of the position and the general duties that a Security Guard may be asked to play on a day to day basis. Guards must be well attuned to changes and developments within the industry and the expectations and obligations that are owed to the client, the public, and his or her employer.

The security industry is one of the fastest growing industries in North America, as private policing enjoys an increasingly public role. According to a recent Statistics Canada survey, there are more Security Guards working in Canada today than Police Officers:

Private Security personnel outnumbered Police Officers in both 1991 and 1996. In 1996, there were 59,090 Police Officers in Canada compared to 82,010 private security personnel: 12,230 private investigators and 69,780 Security Guards.

Criminal activity is not decreasing in frequency. Police agencies are expected to do more with fewer resources. The widening gap between Police service and demand must be filled with something, and based on the experiences of the last few decades in the United States, presumably it will be filled by private policing.

Public And Private Security

There are two main divisions of the security industry: public and private.

Public Security

Public security agencies are those groups that perform a security function but are funded exclusively by governments in the interest of public service. These agencies include municipal, provincial and federal Police forces. Legislation in each jurisdiction initiates and empowers these agencies, mandates specific training, and creates an objective complaint review process. Police forces are granted wide-sweeping powers that are generally recognized by the public, including:

Private Security

Private security is different than public security in several significant ways. Private security is provided to clients for a fee, and except in special circumstances, has its jurisdiction limited to the property owned by the client. Rather than service provided in the interests of the public, security is provided to protect the interests of the client. Traditionally, legislation in Canada has recognized these differences and has not extended the same powers of detention, arrest, and search and seizure to security service providers as have been extended to Police.

Private security includes measures taken by individuals, partnerships and corporations designed to protect their interests. Generally speaking, these measures involve the protection of property (such as the things produced by the client and the facilities and equipment used in its production), personnel (including both the people that work on the site and members of the public having access to it), and information about the products, property, facilities, process and so on (industrial security is rapidly becoming one of the most important aspects of private security).

Companies wishing to have private security without the costs associated with developing their own security unit will often choose to contract the services of an outside security company. By contracting the services of these agencies, a company avoids incurring the costs associated with managing and administering the function. For example, the costs associated with monitoring the performance of individual Security Guards, training, providing a benefit package, and so on, are avoided.

These administrative and other costs are divided among all of the clients of the security firm, decreasing the cost of providing these services to any one client. Companies choosing to employ contract security also can avoid any difficulties that may be encountered through union and employee contract negotiations. These concerns remain with the owners of the private security firms.

Private security firms also operate independently of the politics of the host company. Employees may feel that they can trust a Security Guard from outside the company, and therefore the employee may be more cooperative during investigations than they would be if internal agents were used.

Finally, independent security companies may be able to develop expertise beyond the range of experiences usually associated with in-house security operations. Depending on the nature of the security needs of the host company, it may be more beneficial to go to the experts rather than use in-house or general contract personnel.

The Role Of A Security Guard

It is the role of a Security Guard to protect people, property and information. They are responsible to a variety of people:

To the employer

As a Security Guard, you have a responsibility to your employer for the security and protection of property. This involves:

• The responsibility to make every effort to ensure premises and property are protected in an appropriate and effective fashion against a variety of natural and man-made threats;
• Preventing, detecting and reacting appropriately to the commission of criminal and quasi-criminal actions on or against the property of the client; and
• The obligation to perform these duties in a way that enables the client to have confidence that they will not lose business or have to pay a substantial civil claim because of the conduct of security services.

To the Public

Security is normally assigned the duty of protecting the public from loss or injury. This includes:

• A responsibility to interact with law enforcement officials and the Justice system, where necessary, such as apprehending and detaining someone who has committed a criminal offence. Security may be able to supplement the efforts of Police, performing preliminary investigations or securing crime scenes until the Police can arrive. Security personnel may also be a valuable source of information to the Police;
• In emergencies, people may look to figures of authority for leadership and guidance. Because of his or her position, a Security Guard is likely to fall into this category;
• Security Guards also possess information that would assist emergency personnel in times of crisis. For example, using that knowledge in an appropriate manner by directing firefighters to the easiest or best way to the scene of a fire or to the scene of an industrial accident that has occurred on a work site more quickly than they could have found it otherwise. Or, security may be able to warn emergency crews about danger zones within the site;
• Where criminal charges have been laid as the result of information a Security Guard gave to the Police, and the proper procedures were followed in making the arrest, the Security Guard will be expected to testify that the evidence was legally acquired, produce and/or identify the exhibits, identify the accused, and present testimony to the court in a professional manner.

To Yourself

A Security Guard should recognize that he or she is a professional and is involved in a position that involves tremendous responsibility. Often, security is responsible for protecting hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars of property and equipment. Consequently, the guard must act in a serious and responsible manner during the performance of his or her duties.

Observe, Deter, Record And Report

Although a Security Guard’s role may vary, one thing will never change.

A Security Guard’s primary responsibility is to “provide protection” to personnel, property and information. It is also important to note that the days of a Security Guard “acting tough” as a bouncer and enforcing the peace on a work site through force and intimidation, are past. While there can be no doubt that some situations will involve physical intervention, the majority of tasks assigned require a Security Guard to observe, deter, record and report only. Police Officers may rely on the status of their position, their uniform, extensive specialized training, and weapons to control situations in which there is some risk of being assaulted. Most Security Guards do not have these advantages and are far better advised to watch what is going on, take notes, and contact the Police if necessary.

Deterring And Detecting Crime:

Your very presence will deter most criminals from doing something illegal on your site. However, if someone does try to commit a crime, you should respond according to the protocol the Client wishes you to follow. Not all clients want people charged or the Police called. Your response will be predetermined by the client and the security company. Be aware of what your Post Orders require you to do. If you do call the Police, be able to give them valuable information. This may help them catch the criminals or stop the crime while it is happening. You should carefully make notes so that you remember as many details of the crime as possible.

It is important at all times to work to build good relations with the Police. Together with your local Police force, you form a security team. It is also important that you know exactly what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do under the law. During the course of your career as a Security Guard, you will be responsible for a variety of duties. However, your main duty in all situations is to observe, deter, record and report.