7.3 Access Control, Egress & Trespass

7.3 Access Control, Egress & Trespass

Quick Answer: Access control verifies who may enter; egress keeps exits clear and usable in emergencies. In BC, the Trespass Act lets an owner (or agent, including a guard) direct a person to leave; refusing is a provincial offence. Trespass is not a criminal offence, and Trespass Act s.7 limits arrest for it to a peace officer or conservation officer — a guard may not arrest for trespass itself, though a separate criminal offence (such as theft or mischief) found committing on the property can support a Criminal Code s.494 arrest.

Why This Matters for the BST Exam

Access control and trespass are where guards most often misunderstand their authority. The exam tests: (1) the correct procedure for screening entrants and controlling exits, and (2) the legal boundary between provincial trespass (you direct them to leave; they may be fined) and criminal conduct (the narrow citizen's-arrest path). Public and personal safety is the priority; documentation supports any later action.

Access Control Methods

Access control is the gatekeeping function — confirming the right person, right area, right time. Common methods:

• ID verification — check government-issued photo ID against an authorised list or expected visitor
• Visitor sign-in/sign-out log — name, host, time in, time out, purpose
• Visitor badges — visible, time-limited, returned on exit; colour-coded by zone
• Keys and access cards — issued per individual; logged; returned when no longer needed; lost cards reported immediately
• Access lists / authorised-personnel lists — maintained by client; checked at entry
• Escort policy — visitors in restricted zones escorted by authorised staff
• Delivery control — drivers sign in; vehicles logged; trailers inspected

Screening People and Vehicles

Screening is observational, not a search. A guard does not have authority to search a person or vehicle without consent or a specific authority. What you can do:

• Observe demeanour and behaviour as people approach
• Compare ID to the access list
• Confirm the host is expecting them (call ahead)
• For vehicles, record plate, driver, time, destination on site
• Refuse entry if not authorised; document the refusal and the reason

If someone refuses to show ID and is not on the authorised list, the correct action is to deny entry and report — not to detain or search.

Controlling Egress During Emergencies

Egress control is the mirror of access control — ensuring people can get out safely:

• Keep exits and exit routes clear at all times — no storage in stairwells, no chained doors, no blocked panic hardware
• Know your post's emergency exits and assembly points
• In an evacuation, guide occupants to the nearest safe exit; do not allow re-entry until cleared by fire/police
• Account for personnel at the assembly point; report missing persons to emergency responders
• Maintain access for emergency vehicles — keep fire lanes clear

The exam tests that you keep egress paths clear in normal conditions, not only during an emergency.

The BC Trespass Act Context

The Trespass Act (BC) applies to entering or remaining on premises without permission. Key points for a guard:

• An owner, occupier, or their agent (which includes a security guard acting on the owner's authority) may direct a person to leave premises they have no right to be on
• The direction must be clear — tell the person they are not authorised and must leave
• Once directed to leave, refusing to leave is a provincial offence subject to fine
• A guard may give a trespass notice banning a person from returning for a specified period; the notice should be documented (date, person, location, witness)
• A guard does not arrest for trespass — Trespass Act s.7 limits warrantless arrest for it to a peace officer or a conservation officer; refusal to leave is reported to police, who can enforce the Act

Trespass vs. Criminal Offence

When to Ask Someone to Leave vs. When Arrest Applies

The boundary is the exam's favourite trap. Ask someone to leave when:

• They are in a non-public or restricted area without authorisation
• They have been given a trespass notice and returned
• They are causing minor disruption on private property

Arrest is not available for trespass itself. A guard's arrest power comes from Criminal Code s.494: s.494(1) lets anyone arrest a person found committing an indictable offence, or a person reasonably believed to have committed a criminal offence who is escaping from and freshly pursued by persons with lawful authority to arrest; s.494(2), the guard's everyday authority, lets the property owner's authorized agent arrest a person found committing a criminal offence (indictable or summary, but never a provincial offence such as trespass) on or in relation to the property — at the time, or within a reasonable time after if a peace-officer arrest is not feasible. Even then:

• You may use only as much force as is necessary to make the arrest (Criminal Code s.25(1), which applies to a lawful s.494 arrest through s.494(4))
• You must deliver the person to a police officer forthwith
• Public and personal safety is the priority — do not arrest if doing so creates risk

For most exam scenarios involving a non-violent trespasser, the correct answer is: direct them to leave, document the direction and the response, and call police if they refuse.

Documentation of Access and Trespass Events

Every access-control refusal, trespass notice, and egress issue should be documented:

• Access refusals — who, when, why, who was called
• Trespass notices — date, location, person (or description), reason, witness, period of ban
• Egress issues — blocked exits, who was notified, when cleared
• Use-of-force events — full detail; report to client and police; preserve evidence

Good documentation protects the guard, the client, and the public; the exam treats thorough, contemporaneous notes as the correct default.

Access-Control Procedures (Quick Reference)

1. Verify identity (ID + authorised list)
2. Confirm purpose / host
3. Issue badge; log time in
4. Direct to destination or arrange escort
5. Observe demeanour throughout visit
6. Log time out; recover badge
7. Report any anomaly immediately