Free BC BST Exam Flashcards

To observe, deter, and report, not to act as police. A guard has only the arrest and defence powers of any private person, plus powers the property owner delegates (Criminal Code s. 494(2), Trespass Act), used within the Security Services Act and licence conditions.

Section 14 of the Security Services Regulation requires a licensed security worker to act with honesty and integrity, and prohibits wilfully or negligently making a false statement or false complaint.

Section 14 requires a security worker to treat all persons equally, without discrimination based on protected grounds such as race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, or religion, while performing security duties.

A licensed security worker must not be unfit for duty through alcohol or drug consumption while working (Security Services Regulation, s. 14). Impaired judgment undermines both safety and licence standing.

Section 14 prohibits profane, abusive, or insulting language or actions, and prohibits using unnecessary force. Professional conduct standards apply throughout an interaction, not only during a use-of-force incident.

Information learned on duty, such as client data, incident details, or access codes, must stay limited to legitimate need-to-know use. Improper disclosure can breach privacy law and employer policy and damages client trust.

Treating everyone consistently regardless of background, avoiding assumptions based on appearance, and applying the same rules and courtesy to every person encountered on patrol or at a fixed post.

Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 affirms existing Aboriginal and treaty rights. BC's 2019 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act commits the province to bring its laws into line with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples — rights distinct from individual non-discrimination law.

Verbal communication, calm presence, and problem-solving can resolve conflict without physical intervention. BST trains security workers to try safer, lawful options first and reserve force for when it is actually necessary.

Coordinated actions and clear communication between partners reduce confusion during an incident, keep both workers focused on the same plan, and produce a more consistent, accurate account for the incident report afterward.

A person must hold a valid security worker licence to perform security work in BC, unless exempt by regulation or the Registrar has determined the work is only incidental to their main job.

Section 4 lets the Registrar refuse to issue or renew if the applicant is charged with or convicted of a crime, is a peace officer, fails the s. 3 requirements, or if their conduct, training, character, or repute makes licensing undesirable or against the public interest.

Section 5 requires every licensee to comply with the Security Services Act, its regulations, and all conditions attached to their specific licence — conditions the Registrar considers appropriate for that licence.

A security worker must report certain changes, such as a new address or a criminal charge or conviction, within 14 days. Missing this deadline can put a licence at risk of suspension or cancellation.

No, generally. Security Services Act s. 26(1) prohibits a licensee from carrying a firearm; s. 26(2) allows an exception only for armoured car guards with the Registrar's permission.

Section 25(4) bars anyone other than an authorized person, such as a licensed locksmith, or the lock's owner, from possessing tools designed or adapted to open or bypass a lock without its own key or combination, such as picks or rocker keys.

Security Services Regulation s. 12: "SECURITY" on the chest (letters at least 1.25 cm) and on the back of any jacket, vest, or other outer garment (at least 5 cm), plus the employer's name. No police-look-alike uniform, identification badge, or over-the-shoulder (Sam Browne) belt.

The Security Services Act defines seven kinds of security work, such as security guard service, private investigator, and locksmith. Regulation s. 15 then sets 16 licence types, including security guard under supervision, and one licence can combine several types.

No. Carrying or using restraints needs Registrar authorization (a Restraint Endorsement). The usual route is JIBC Advanced Security Training (AST), renewed every 3 years; recent Canadian police, corrections, or sheriff experience with use-of-force training may qualify instead.

Businesses and their security staff must accommodate a person's disability-related needs up to the point of undue hardship. Refusing reasonable accommodation without justification can expose the business to a human rights complaint.

Generally no. BC's Guide Dog and Service Dog Act makes it an offence to deny access to a certified guide/service dog team. Certification is voluntary; uncertified handlers may still be protected under the Human Rights Code.

A person who believes a licensed worker acted improperly can file a complaint with the Registrar, Security Services Act. The Registrar can investigate and take licensing action, separate from any criminal or civil process.

Only the 'finds committing' power in s. 494(1)(a) is limited to indictable offences, and hybrid offences such as theft of $5,000 or less count as indictable (Interpretation Act s. 34(1)(a)). The fresh-pursuit and property powers cover any criminal offence.

Anyone may arrest without warrant a person they find committing an indictable offence, or a person they believe on reasonable grounds has committed a criminal offence and is escaping from and being freshly pursued by people with lawful authority to arrest.

The owner or lawful possessor of property, or a person they authorize, such as a security guard, may arrest someone found committing a criminal offence on or in relation to it: at the time, or within a reasonable time after if a peace-officer arrest is not feasible.

The person who made the arrest must forthwith deliver the arrested person to a peace officer. Holding someone longer than necessary to arrange that handoff can turn a lawful arrest into unlawful confinement.

The arrester must personally discover the person apparently committing the offence. A rumour, description, or hunch after the fact is not enough; later arrests rely on the fresh-pursuit rule in s. 494(1)(b) or the delayed property-arrest rule in s. 494(2)(b).

A person is not criminally liable for a defensive act if they reasonably believed force or a threat of force was being used against them or another, acted to defend against it, and the act was reasonable in the circumstances.

Courts weigh factors such as the nature of the force or threat, its imminence, available alternatives, any weapon involved, and the relative size and capabilities of those involved — no single factor decides the case alone.

Yes, in structure. Criminal Code s. 35 excuses a reasonable act to keep out or remove a trespasser or stop property being taken or damaged, if the person reasonably believes they possess the property or act under the authority of the person who does.

Criminal Code s. 25(1) justifies using only as much force as is necessary for a lawfully authorized act; s. 494(4) confirms a person arresting under s. 494 is 'authorized by law' for this purpose. Force must stop once the need ends.

Security Services Regulation s. 11 bans carrying or using restraining devices without Registrar authorization, weapons prohibited by the Criminal Code, and any item designed to debilitate or control a person or animal, such as pepper spray, batons, or tasers.

Criminal liability (e.g., assault, unlawful confinement), civil liability (a lawsuit for damages), and licensing or disciplinary liability (Registrar action under the Security Services Act) are separate consequences that can all apply to the same incident.

Only a peace officer or conservation officer (Trespass Act s. 7). As the occupier's authorized person, a guard may give notice, direct the person to leave (s. 2(3)), and demand their name and address (s. 6); any removal force must be reasonable (Criminal Code s. 35).

A report can become evidence in a licensing hearing, civil suit, or criminal case months after the event. Vague or inaccurate reports can undermine a security worker's own credibility and their employer's position.

An objective report records observable facts, such as actions, words, and times, while a subjective report adds interpretation or labels like 'aggressive.' Trained report writing favors specific, verifiable facts over conclusions.

Who was involved, what happened, when and where it occurred, and how the security worker responded, recorded in a clear time sequence so a reader can reconstruct the incident without guessing.

It should show the legal basis relied on, for example Criminal Code s. 494, what was observed before acting, why the arrest was necessary, and the exact time the arrested person was delivered to a peace officer.

Memory of details, such as exact words, sequence, and timing, fades quickly. Writing promptly, while events are fresh, produces a more accurate and more credible record than a report written days later.

It means tracking who had control of physical evidence, and when, so nothing is lost, altered, or unaccounted for between the security worker's involvement and police taking over the matter.

Predictable patrols let would-be offenders learn the pattern and time their activity around it. Varying the route and timing increases the perceived risk of being observed and improves genuine deterrence.

Continuously scanning surroundings, establishing what 'normal' looks like for a site, and noticing deviations from that baseline, such as an unfamiliar vehicle or an unlocked door, early enough to respond safely.

Verifying that people entering a site have valid credentials or authorization, checking sign-in logs, and confirming doors and gates that should be secured actually are, rather than assuming a space is safe.

Assess the available information for risk before acting: is backup needed, is the area safe to approach, and what is the least risky way to confirm what is actually happening.

Treat it as a possible in-progress incident until confirmed otherwise: assess from a safe position, avoid entering alone if forced entry is suspected, and involve police rather than confronting a possible intruder solo.

Support, not interfere: secure and preserve the scene, give a concise handoff of what was observed and done, and follow the responding agency's instructions rather than continuing independent action.

Support an orderly evacuation to the designated assembly point, direct people away from danger, and avoid attempting to fight a fire beyond a small, early-stage one within trained capability and equipment.

Provide only the care they are trained and certified to give, call for emergency medical help promptly for anything serious, and avoid attempting a diagnosis, describing observed symptoms and actions taken instead.

Under BC's occupational health and safety framework, a worker has the right to refuse work they have reasonable cause to believe is unsafe, and to report hazards without fear of reprisal.

Night and rotating shifts increase fatigue-related risk to judgment, reaction time, and safety. Recognizing fatigue's warning signs and following rest and scheduling policies protects both the worker and the people they are responsible for.