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Ninety practice questions with answers and explanations, ten for each door supervisor, security guard, CCTV and refresher paper. Read them here, print them, or download the free PDF to revise on the go.
Section 24A of PACE allows a citizen to arrest anyone in the act of committing an indictable offence or, once one has been committed, anyone guilty of it or reasonably suspected of it. Unlike a constable, a citizen cannot arrest someone who is only about to commit an offence.
UK extinguishers have red bodies with a coloured band: red for water, cream for foam, blue for dry powder, black for CO2 and yellow for wet chemical.
Until the police arrive, the arrested person is your responsibility. Hand them over, explain the reason for the arrest and tell the police about witnesses, CCTV or property. You may need to give a statement and attend court.
Check calls confirm that a lone worker is safe. If a call is missed, the control room follows its escalation procedure to check on you and send help.
Electricity can start a fire but is not itself a fuel, so there is no electrical class. Once the power is isolated, the fire is classed by what is burning.
Fire exit and first aid signs are safe condition signs, with white symbols on a green background. Red signs with white symbols show fire-fighting equipment.
VAAW, also called vehicle ramming, uses the vehicle itself to injure people. A vehicle packed with explosives is a vehicle-borne IED, which is a different method.
Support can come from colleagues, managers, counsellors and employee assistance schemes, helplines such as Samaritans, and organisations such as Citizens Advice or trade unions.
Notes made at the time or soon after are more accurate and carry more weight as evidence. Details are easily forgotten or mixed up as time passes.
Class A is solids such as wood and paper, Class B flammable liquids, Class C flammable gases, Class D metals and Class F cooking oils and fats.
Circumstantial evidence supports a conclusion indirectly. For example, a person seen running from the scene with blood on their clothes suggests involvement but does not prove it.
The NATO phonetic alphabet gives each letter a standard word, such as Delta for D and Sierra for S, so letters are not misheard over the radio.
Follow venue policy and assignment instructions. Seize and secure the drugs if it is safe, inform a supervisor or manager, decide on refusal, ejection or arrest, and record the incident.
Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 makes it an offence to intentionally touch someone sexually without their consent and without a reasonable belief that they consent. Rape involves penetration with a penis, exposure is showing the genitals and voyeurism is watching or recording private acts.
Section 149 of the Licensing Act 2003 makes it an offence to buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of a person under 18, apart from a narrow exception for table meals.
Police and trading standards use young volunteers to make test purchases. A sale to them can lead to prosecution and a review of the premises licence.
Religious items should be treated with respect. Use non-contact methods such as a metal detector and, if more is needed, offer a private area with a same-sex searcher, in line with the Equality Act 2010 and venue policy.
An archway metal detector (AMD) is a frame that people walk through. A hand-held wand is passed over the body and can pinpoint where an item is.
These could be signs of spiking. Prioritise her welfare, give or get first aid and call an ambulance if needed, then secure the glass and any CCTV and follow the venue's spiking procedure.
Body-worn cameras help secure evidence, deter crime, protect staff, improve the behaviour of both customers and staff, and identify offenders.
Raising repeated problems with your employer helps find lasting solutions, such as better staffing or signs, rather than managing the same conflict every day.
Reflection helps you learn from experience, improve your skills and share good practice with colleagues.
Empathy means imagining yourself in the other person's position. You can show understanding without agreeing or giving in.
Non-verbal signals such as folded arms or lack of attention suggest you are not interested, which can escalate conflict.
Moving somewhere quieter removes the barrier. Stay in view of colleagues or CCTV and keep a safe distance.
Pain and shock make it hard to listen and take things in. Other barriers include fear, heat, noise, language, culture, mental ill health, fear of authority, and alcohol or drugs.
Conflict usually builds from frustration to anger, then aggression and finally violence, so it is best to step in early.
Win-win means everyone is satisfied with the outcome. It is reached through active listening, empathy, negotiation and problem solving.
A polite request with a reason, and the chance to leave with dignity, lowers the risk of conflict. Physical intervention is a last resort.
Stress after an incident is a normal reaction. Employers, occupational health, counselling services and your GP can all help.
Everyone involved must complete a full report individually, accounting for their own actions, so the record is accurate and can be relied on.
Supporting colleagues includes containing the area and managing bystanders, watching for risks to staff and the person held, passing on any concern about the person's wellbeing and swapping roles when needed.
Once a threat has stopped, further force is unlikely to be necessary or proportionate. Force used as revenge or punishment is unlawful.
A non-restrictive prompt is used when persuasion has not achieved, or is unlikely to achieve, the legitimate aim. Keep using customer service skills throughout.
Excessive force can lead to a civil claim for damages against the door supervisor, the security company or the venue, so there are financial consequences as well as criminal ones.
Force must be necessary in the circumstances and no more than is reasonable and proportionate to the threat. Anything beyond that can be an assault.
Ground incidents carry risks of impact injuries during falls, cuts from glass or debris, and assault from other people while staff are on the floor.
Passing the qualification gives no special powers. A door supervisor has the same rights as any private individual to use reasonable force and must act within the law.
Someone must always monitor the person's breathing and wellbeing and keep talking to them. A colleague near the head is best placed to do this.
Going to the ground should be avoided where possible. If it happens, get the person up or into a seated or recovery position quickly, monitoring their breathing throughout.
EAS tags set off the exit gates if they have not been removed or deactivated at the till.
A PIR detects changes in the infrared energy given off by people moving in its field. A door contact detects a door being opened.
Alertness improves awareness, judgement and reaction times, which helps you stop incidents from escalating.
Start by asking politely and giving a reason. Force is a last resort, used only if they refuse and your instructions allow it.
Lock-up patrols make sure the site is secure, alarms are set and fire precautions are in place, without blocking emergency routes.
A polite challenge to check authority is the right first step. Most cases are innocent, but some are attempts to get in without permission.
Assignment instructions are agreed between the security company and the client. They set out the duties, contacts and emergency procedures for that site.
A radio check before you set off makes sure you can call for help and receive messages.
Reflecting on what went well and what could be better improves personal and organisational practice and helps prevent repeats.
'Over' hands the channel back for a reply. 'Out' ends the conversation, and 'Roger' means a message was received.
Employers must arrange an eye and eyesight test for display screen users who request one, and pay for basic glasses if they are needed for screen work.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition reads vehicle registrations and can check them against databases, for example of stolen vehicles. Facial recognition is a separate technology.
Intrusive surveillance is covert surveillance of anything taking place on residential premises or in a private vehicle. It needs the highest level of authorisation and is not available to councils.
A PTZ camera can pan (move left and right), tilt (move up and down) and zoom (change from a wide view to a close-up) under the operator's control. A fixed camera has one set view.
The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 required the government to issue a code of practice for surveillance camera systems. This is the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice.
The code has 12 guiding principles, covering matters such as purpose, privacy, transparency, accountability, retention, access, security, audit and accurate reference databases.
Proactive monitoring means watching likely hotspots before anything is reported, based on knowledge and patterns. The other options are reactive responses to reports.
Operators must not disclose footage or information without authority. Media requests go to management, who decide under the scheme's procedures and data protection law.
Public space CCTV supports crime prevention and detection, public safety, traffic management and emergencies. It supports the police but does not replace them.
Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, relevant authorities, including local authorities and police forces, must have regard to the code. Other operators are encouraged to adopt it voluntarily.
If an item breaks entry policy but is not illegal, follow venue policy. This could mean looking after it and returning it on exit, or refusing entry.
Duty of care is a moral or legal obligation to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others. People may not appear vulnerable, so it should be applied to everyone.
Some disabilities are invisible and can look like intoxication. Assess the person fairly and consider their needs, as treating them less favourably because of a disability may breach the Equality Act 2010.
Invacuation (lockdown) keeps people inside in a safer area when the threat is outside. It has risks too, as a crowd indoors could become a target, so follow the site plan and police advice.
Prioritise the welfare of the potential victim. Provide or arrange first aid, call an ambulance if needed and make sure they are not left alone or in danger.
Spiking includes adding alcohol or drugs to someone's drink or food without their knowledge or consent, including giving more alcohol than they agreed to, such as a double instead of a single. It can be a criminal offence, and venues should refuse to add alcohol to another person's drink.
Self-search techniques keep your hands away from hidden sharps. Wear suitable PPE, such as needle-resistant gloves, and never put your hand blindly into a pocket.
Emergency services need to know what has happened, who you saw and their description, where it happened and where you are, and when it happened.
Suspected controlled drugs should be seized, secured, recorded and passed to the police. Depending on policy you may also arrest the person and hand them and the item over to the police.
SCaN (See, Check and Notify) uses good customer service to engage, which can disrupt hostile reconnaissance. Then report it through site procedures or the Anti-Terrorist Hotline.
The longer a forceful restraint lasts, the more exposure to risk and medical complications. Exhaustion is itself a warning sign, so de-escalate and release at the earliest safe opportunity.
Violent incidents can lead to a review of the premises licence, civil claims against the venue or security company, higher costs and lost trade.
Hallucinations, paranoia and extreme fear linked to delusional beliefs are signs of psychosis. It can result from mental illness or drugs and should be treated as a medical emergency.
Responsibilities after an intervention include preserving evidence, such as CCTV and body-worn camera footage, and securing witness accounts.
Proficiency in physical skills decreases over time and law and best practice change, so regular practice and CPD reduce the risks to everyone.
Everyone involved has a duty of care to the subject and must challenge unnecessary or excessive force. Weight on the back is a serious positional asphyxia risk.
Dynamic risk assessment continues during and after an intervention. Watch for third parties escalating the situation and adjust, de-escalate or withdraw as needed.
The SIA licence does not give any extra powers. Door supervisors rely on the same law as everyone else, such as self-defence, prevention of crime and removing trespassers.
Brief the emergency services on the circumstances, the method and position of restraint, its duration and any difficulties, plus anything known about the person that may help treatment.
Dynamic risk assessment helps you decide whether, when and how to intervene and when help is needed. When there is no immediate risk of harm, verbal de-escalation comes first.
Signs can include unexplained injuries, restricted freedom, low confidence and changes in appearance or cleanliness. Report concerns under your safeguarding procedure.
Upskirting is a criminal offence under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, added by the Voyeurism (Offences) Act 2019. Follow site procedure, support the victim and involve the police.
Closing checks make sure no one has stayed behind to commit crime or is trapped inside, and that doors and windows are secure.
The levels are LOW (highly unlikely), MODERATE (possible but not likely), SUBSTANTIAL (likely), SEVERE (highly likely) and CRITICAL (highly likely in the near future).
Security officers should never ask anyone to remove clothing other than outer garments such as coats, jackets and gloves.
An attack in progress needs an immediate police response, so call 999. The Anti-Terrorist Hotline and ACT online reporting are for suspicious activity that is not an emergency.
Hostile planners look for predictable routines and weak spots. Visible, vigilant staff, irregular patrols, organised searching and secured exits all disrupt them.
SCaN stands for See, Check and Notify. If you still have concerns after checking, notify the right people straight away, such as your control room, supervisor or the police, following your site's procedures. Call 999 if there is an immediate threat.
Never promise confidentiality. Listen calmly, do not ask leading questions, record what was said and report it at once under your safeguarding procedure.
Hostile reconnaissance is gathering information to plan an attack. Signs include unusual interest in security measures, filming or noting entrances, and avoiding security staff.
The questions are grouped by exam paper, so revise the sections for your licence:
These ninety questions are a sample. For a full practice exam, use the link at the end of each section: the mock tests draw from banks of up to 110 questions per paper, with a new mix every time.
Yes. Use the download button at the top of this page for a free PDF of all 90 questions, answers and explanations. There is no sign-up.
No, and be wary of anyone who says theirs will. The real papers are confidential. These questions test the same knowledge in the same style, so if you understand them you are well prepared.
Cover the answer, choose yours, then read the explanation even when you were right. Once you know the topics, move on to the timed mock tests to practise under exam conditions.
Every section links to its full mock test. Those draw from much bigger question banks, are timed like the real exams and mark you at the end.
Questions last checked: 17 October 2026. These are practice questions written for BookCourse, not the official exam papers.
Practise with our free mock tests until you pass comfortably, then book your course.