Use of Force: Legal Guidelines Every Security Guard Must Know

For ACS compliance, this is important. Security guards have no special legal powers beyond those of ordinary citizens. Understanding the boundaries of lawful force is essential for protecting your guards from prosecution and your company from civil liability claims.

The Legal Framework

Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows any person to use reasonable force to prevent crime or to effect a lawful arrest. The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 further clarifies that force is reasonable if it is honest and instinctive in the heat of the moment, even if hindsight suggests it was not strictly necessary.

The key test is always proportionality. Force must be proportionate to the threat faced. Using excessive force can result in criminal charges against the guard and civil claims against your company.

Citizen’s Arrest Powers

Under Section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, any person may arrest without warrant anyone who is in the act of committing an indictable offence, or whom they have reasonable grounds to suspect is committing one. The arrest must be necessary because a police officer is not available to make it.

Guards should be trained to understand that citizen’s arrest is a last resort and carries significant legal risk. Where possible, the preferred approach is always to observe, report, and wait for police attendance.

Training and Policy

All guards should receive conflict management and physical intervention training from an accredited provider. Your company policy should clearly state that de-escalation is always the preferred response, physical intervention is a last resort when there is an immediate threat to safety, any use of force must be documented in detail immediately afterwards, and all incidents involving force must be reported to management.

Documentation Is Critical

When force is used, thorough documentation protects everyone. The guard’s report should cover what threat was perceived, what alternatives were considered, what force was used and why, the outcome including any injuries, and witness details. This documentation should be completed as soon as possible while events are fresh. Digital reporting tools with timestamped entries provide strong evidential support if the incident is later investigated.

---

Ready to modernise your security operations? Request a free demo of TacDesk and see how cloud-based guard management can transform your business.

Related Articles

• → Lone Worker Safety for Security Guards: Check Calls, Legal Duties, and Smart Solutions
• → GDPR Compliance for Security Companies: What You Need to Know
• → Lone Worker Policies: Legal Requirements for Security Firms
• → BS7858 Screening: What Every Security Company Needs to Know

Explore all TacDesk features · Book a free demo · View pricing