Can security guards detain you?

In the event of a security breach, it is inevitable that the situation will turn physical. But can a security guard detain you if you trespass or commit a crime? The short answer is yes. Security guards are acting within their rights and responsibilities to detain perpetrators physically. This article explores this in more detail.

Are there any conditions security guards must follow to detain someone?

Yes, there is a certain set of conditions that must be met to ensure compliance with the law. There are three main rules that security guards must follow to ensure that physically touching someone is lawful. These are: 

• Physical contact is permitted with your consent or under legal authority to search you. 
• If physical touch can help prevent harm and diffuse any immediate threats or risks.
  When detaining or restraining an individual who is suspected of committing a crime or has the intention to commit a crime, security guards can use physical contact until the police arrive. 

When can security guards touch you or use physical force? 

There are several laws in the UK that govern the conduct of security guards and their appropriate use of physical touch or force. These include the Criminal Law Act 1967 and the Human Rights Act 1998. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) also sets standards and requirements that SIA-approved security guards should follow.

Under these laws and governing bodies, and to answer the question, can security guards touch you, they can, but only in the following situations: 

• In cases of self-defence, security guards are allowed to use reasonable force to defend themselves from harm. 
• If others are facing the threat or risk of harm, security guards may use physical force to protect them.
  Proportionate force can be used by security guards in order to prevent a crime from being committed. The force applied should match the level of risk or threat.
• If they have solid grounds to suspect an individual has taken part in criminal activity, the security guards have the right to detain and restrain suspects until the police arrive on the scene to take over.

Can security guards search you? 

Now we’ve covered when they can use physical force and touch, let’s move on to whether security guards can search you. Physical contact should always be kept to a minimum, but a security guard can search you if they suspect you of a crime.

However, generally, the search can only take place if the participants have consent or are acting under legal authority. There are two instances where a security guard can perform a search without consent, they are: 

• If a bag is left unattended, security guards can carry out a search to check for potential bomb threats. 
• If someone is unconscious, the guard can search the person to identify the person or any health information that could assist in the situation.  

Are you looking for SIA-approved security guards?

If you are interested in working with SIA-approved security guards at your event, business or on your premises, please contact Stonewall Security to discuss your requirements.