7.1 Patrol Techniques

7.1 Patrol Techniques

Quick Answer: A patrol is a planned movement through an assigned area to deter, detect, deny, and report. The BST exam expects you to know patrol types, the unpredictability principle, what to carry, and the two-officer rule for high-risk situations. A predictable patrol is a failed patrol.

Why This Matters for the BST Exam

The JIBC BST Assessment (SCRT-1656) treats patrol as a core guard function, but it frames the guard's role as observation and reporting, not enforcement. Questions test whether you understand why patrols are run, how to keep them unpredictable, and what to do when conditions change — including when to call for a second officer. Remember: you are a private citizen with no police powers under the Security Services Act (SBC 2007, c.30); patrol is about presence and detection, not confrontation.

The Four Purposes of Patrol: Deter, Detect, Deny, Report

Every patrol serves one or more of four purposes:

The exam often presents a scenario and asks the best action; the correct answer almost always advances one of these four without escalating to enforcement.

Types of Patrol

The Unpredictability Principle

A patrol that follows the same route at the same time is an invitation to anyone watching to plan around you. The unpredictability principle means varying:

• Route — approach checkpoints from different directions
• Timing — don't hit the same checkpoint at the same minute each round
• Duration — spend longer at some points, skip others occasionally
• Direction — reverse the circuit; enter from the opposite door
• Frequency — more rounds during higher-risk hours, fewer during low-risk

A common exam trap: a guard who runs the same fixed circuit every 30 minutes "for consistency" — correct answers instead favour varied timing that preserves coverage but breaks the pattern.

Checking Doors, Windows, Locks, and Lighting

A patrol is not a walk — it is an inspection. On each round, verify:

1. Doors are closed and locked where they should be; note any propped-open doors
2. Windows are shut/latched; check for breakage or tampering
3. Locks/closures on gates, fences, storage rooms operate correctly
4. Lighting is functioning — replace/report burned-out lamps, note dark spots
5. Hazards — spills, trip risks, fire-exit obstructions, leaking fluids

Document defects immediately in the notebook and by radio; defects are evidence if an incident occurs later.

Patrol Hazards and the Two-Officer Rule

Lone-worker safety is a legal and operational concern in BC. Hazards on patrol include:

• Slips/trips/falls (stairs, ice, wet floors)
• Encountering a suspect who may be armed or aggressive
• Confined spaces (mechanical rooms, basements) with air-quality risks
• Electrical/mechanical hazards near equipment

The two-officer rule: any patrol or response that the post orders or a risk assessment flags as high-risk — an alarm response, a known-occupied intrusion, a cash move, a hostile-person encounter — must be handled by at least two officers, or with police staged, before entry. A lone guard does not enter a high-risk scene alone to "check it out"; they observe from a safe position, call for backup, and report.

What to Carry on Patrol

Standard patrol kit (PPE = personal protective equipment):

• Two-way radio — charged, correct channel, earpiece if available
• Flashlight — working, even in daytime (for dark rooms, stairwells)
• Notebook and pen — pocket-sized, entries made as you go, not reconstructed later
• PPE — gloves, hi-vis vest, safety footwear; site-specific items (eye protection, dust mask)
• Keys/access credentials — only those for your post; do not carry others' keys
• Watch/phone — for accurate times in entries

Radio Communication Protocols and 10-Codes/Phonetics

Radio traffic must be brief, clear, and professional:

• Listen before transmitting — don't walk on another call
• Identify yourself — "Control, this is Patrol One"
• Use plain language — avoid jargon the dispatcher may not know
• 10-codes (e.g., 10-4 = acknowledged, 10-20 = location, 10-33 = emergency) are used by some employers; learn your site's codes but default to plain language when in doubt
• Phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie…) for unclear letters, especially licence plates and names

The exam tests that you report, not chase: radio observations to dispatch, request police when needed, and continue observing.

Post Orders

Post orders are the written instructions for your specific site. They define:

• Patrol routes, checkpoints, and timing expectations
• What to do when you find an anomaly (call whom, secure what)
• Emergency contacts and escalation chains
• Areas that are off-limits or require escort
• Special equipment and procedures

You are accountable to the post orders: if they direct a two-officer response, you do not go alone; if they require a sign-in at a control point, you sign in. When a situation falls outside the post orders, follow the general principle — observe, report, request guidance.