Physical Intervention Refresher Mock Test

Unit 2: Application of Physical Intervention Skills in the Private Security Industry (Refresher)

Practice for the physical intervention refresher exam: use of force law, risks, medical emergencies, positional asphyxia, aftercare and reporting.

Questions: 30 multiple choice
Time: 45 minutes
Pass mark: 80% (24 of 30)
You can get wrong: 6 questions
Counts towards: Door supervisor licence renewal

Start the mock test

Choose how to practise

Full mock test30 questions, 45 minutes, pass mark 24. Answers at the end, like the real exam.Quick round10 questions, no timer. Answers at the end.Practice modeSee the right answer and why after each question. No timer.

Each attempt picks a new set of questions from a bank of 45, so you can practise as often as you like.

Sample questions with answers

1. You are escorting a man out using a standing hold and he says he will now walk out calmly. What should you do?
- A. Keep the full hold on until he is outside, whatever he says or does now
- B. Reassure him, check he means it and reduce the hold step by step as he cooperates (correct answer)
- C. Tighten the hold so that he does not have the chance to change his mind
- D. Let go of him suddenly and turn away from him straight away to show that you trust him
Force must reduce as the risk reduces. Keep communicating and use controlled de-escalation, moving to less restrictive holds and then releasing safely.
2. A struggling man has been sat on a bench outside. A colleague pushes his head and chest down towards his knees to keep him there. Why is this dangerous?
- A. It is only dangerous if the bench is wet or slippery after rain
- B. It is safe enough, because the man is sitting down rather than being held on the ground
- C. Bending a seated person forward can restrict breathing and cause positional asphyxia (correct answer)
- D. It is only a problem because it may damage the man's clothes
Restraint deaths have happened in bent-forward seated positions as well as on the ground. Keep the person upright with their chest free to expand.
3. A new member of the team asks you what 'last resort' means for physical intervention. What do you tell them?
- A. Use it only when other options have failed or are likely to fail (correct answer)
- B. Use it only in the last hour before the venue closes
- C. Use it only after a customer has had three warnings
- D. Use it only when the head door supervisor is present
Physical intervention should only be used when non-physical options, such as communication and de-escalation, have failed or are likely to fail.
4. An elderly man refuses to leave at closing time and is getting agitated. Why should you take extra care before any physical intervention?
- A. Older adults cannot lawfully be asked to leave licensed premises
- B. Older adults are a vulnerable group with a higher risk of injury from restraint (correct answer)
- C. More force can safely be used, because he is unlikely to be able to fight back much
- D. Older adults are only at risk if they have been drinking alcohol
Vulnerable groups such as older adults, children and young people, and people with mental health issues face higher risks from physical intervention. Use other options first.
5. A man walks quickly towards you, reaching into his jacket. You honestly believe he is drawing a knife, so you restrain him. It was his phone. How is your use of force judged?
- A. Only on the facts as they really were, so the force you used must have been unlawful
- B. It is not judged at all, as door supervisors are protected while on duty
- C. Only on whether the man was injured, whatever you believed at the time
- D. On the facts as you honestly believed them to be, if the force was reasonable (correct answer)
Under common law and section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, force is judged on the circumstances as you honestly believed them to be, even if you were mistaken, unless the mistake was caused by your own voluntary intoxication. The force must still be reasonable and not disproportionate in those circumstances.
6. After a violent ejection, a colleague who was hurt says he is fine and does not need to talk about it. Why is post-incident support still important?
- A. It is only needed when a member of staff has had to be taken to hospital for treatment
- B. It is mainly a chance for the staff involved to agree one version of events
- C. It replaces the need for anyone involved to complete an incident report
- D. Incidents can affect people physically and emotionally, and support helps them recover (correct answer)
Accessing help and support after an incident protects staff wellbeing, and reflecting on what happened helps the team learn and reduce risks next time.
7. A man being held says he can't breathe. A colleague replies, 'If he can talk, he can breathe.' Which is correct?
- A. The colleague is wrong: people can still speak while suffering positional asphyxia (correct answer)
- B. The colleague is right: speaking proves that the man's airway is clear
- C. The colleague is right: only people who have gone completely silent are ever in danger
- D. The colleague is wrong: the man should stop talking to save his oxygen
People can still speak while experiencing positional asphyxia or other medical distress. Take any complaint of breathing difficulty seriously and release and help immediately.
8. You suspect a customer is suffering from acute behavioural disturbance. What is the safest approach?
- A. Restrain him on the floor until he tires himself out and stops
- B. Eject him quickly so that he can cool off outside in the fresh air on his own
- C. Call an ambulance, use calm de-escalation and avoid restraint where possible (correct answer)
- D. Throw cold water over him to bring him round and calm him down
Acute behavioural disturbance can lead to sudden death. Treat it as a medical emergency, get medical help and use verbal and non-verbal de-escalation, distraction and calming techniques.

What this mock test covers

The question bank has 45 questions across these topics. Every attempt mixes them at random.

Use of force law (9)
Monitoring and aftercare (6)
Risk factors (5)
Positional asphyxia (5)
Medical emergencies (4)
Excessive force (3)
Teamwork (3)
Reporting and recording (3)
Professional standards (2)
De-escalation (2)
Ground restraint (2)
Alternatives to force (1)

Questions last checked: 17 October 2026. These are practice questions written for BookCourse, not the official exam papers.

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Start the mock test

Choose how to practise

Each attempt picks a new set of questions from a bank of 45, so you can practise as often as you like.

Sample questions with answers

1. You are escorting a man out using a standing hold and he says he will now walk out calmly. What should you do?

A. Keep the full hold on until he is outside, whatever he says or does now
B. Reassure him, check he means it and reduce the hold step by step as he cooperates (correct answer)
C. Tighten the hold so that he does not have the chance to change his mind
D. Let go of him suddenly and turn away from him straight away to show that you trust him

Force must reduce as the risk reduces. Keep communicating and use controlled de-escalation, moving to less restrictive holds and then releasing safely.

2. A struggling man has been sat on a bench outside. A colleague pushes his head and chest down towards his knees to keep him there. Why is this dangerous?

A. It is only dangerous if the bench is wet or slippery after rain
B. It is safe enough, because the man is sitting down rather than being held on the ground
C. Bending a seated person forward can restrict breathing and cause positional asphyxia (correct answer)
D. It is only a problem because it may damage the man's clothes

Restraint deaths have happened in bent-forward seated positions as well as on the ground. Keep the person upright with their chest free to expand.

3. A new member of the team asks you what 'last resort' means for physical intervention. What do you tell them?

A. Use it only when other options have failed or are likely to fail (correct answer)
B. Use it only in the last hour before the venue closes
C. Use it only after a customer has had three warnings
D. Use it only when the head door supervisor is present

Physical intervention should only be used when non-physical options, such as communication and de-escalation, have failed or are likely to fail.

4. An elderly man refuses to leave at closing time and is getting agitated. Why should you take extra care before any physical intervention?

A. Older adults cannot lawfully be asked to leave licensed premises
B. Older adults are a vulnerable group with a higher risk of injury from restraint (correct answer)
C. More force can safely be used, because he is unlikely to be able to fight back much
D. Older adults are only at risk if they have been drinking alcohol

Vulnerable groups such as older adults, children and young people, and people with mental health issues face higher risks from physical intervention. Use other options first.

5. A man walks quickly towards you, reaching into his jacket. You honestly believe he is drawing a knife, so you restrain him. It was his phone. How is your use of force judged?

A. Only on the facts as they really were, so the force you used must have been unlawful
B. It is not judged at all, as door supervisors are protected while on duty
C. Only on whether the man was injured, whatever you believed at the time
D. On the facts as you honestly believed them to be, if the force was reasonable (correct answer)

Under common law and section 76 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, force is judged on the circumstances as you honestly believed them to be, even if you were mistaken, unless the mistake was caused by your own voluntary intoxication. The force must still be reasonable and not disproportionate in those circumstances.

6. After a violent ejection, a colleague who was hurt says he is fine and does not need to talk about it. Why is post-incident support still important?

A. It is only needed when a member of staff has had to be taken to hospital for treatment
B. It is mainly a chance for the staff involved to agree one version of events
C. It replaces the need for anyone involved to complete an incident report
D. Incidents can affect people physically and emotionally, and support helps them recover (correct answer)

Accessing help and support after an incident protects staff wellbeing, and reflecting on what happened helps the team learn and reduce risks next time.

7. A man being held says he can't breathe. A colleague replies, 'If he can talk, he can breathe.' Which is correct?

A. The colleague is wrong: people can still speak while suffering positional asphyxia (correct answer)
B. The colleague is right: speaking proves that the man's airway is clear
C. The colleague is right: only people who have gone completely silent are ever in danger
D. The colleague is wrong: the man should stop talking to save his oxygen

People can still speak while experiencing positional asphyxia or other medical distress. Take any complaint of breathing difficulty seriously and release and help immediately.

8. You suspect a customer is suffering from acute behavioural disturbance. What is the safest approach?

A. Restrain him on the floor until he tires himself out and stops
B. Eject him quickly so that he can cool off outside in the fresh air on his own
C. Call an ambulance, use calm de-escalation and avoid restraint where possible (correct answer)
D. Throw cold water over him to bring him round and calm him down

Acute behavioural disturbance can lead to sudden death. Treat it as a medical emergency, get medical help and use verbal and non-verbal de-escalation, distraction and calming techniques.

What this mock test covers

The question bank has 45 questions across these topics. Every attempt mixes them at random.

Use of force law (9)

Monitoring and aftercare (6)

Risk factors (5)

Positional asphyxia (5)

Medical emergencies (4)

Excessive force (3)

Teamwork (3)

Reporting and recording (3)

Professional standards (2)

De-escalation (2)

Ground restraint (2)

Alternatives to force (1)