PLRD Incident Reporting and Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which information is ESSENTIAL to include in every incident report?
- The officer's personal opinion on who is at fault
- Date, time, location, description of incident, and parties involved (Correct answer)
- Salary information of those involved
- The officer's home address for follow-up
Correct answer: Date, time, location, description of incident, and parties involved
A complete incident report must include the 5Ws (who, what, when, where, why) and how — starting with date, time, location, incident description, and parties involved.
Question 2: When handing over to the next shift, a security officer should:
- Give a verbal briefing only to save time
- Provide a written handover in the Occurrence Book and brief the incoming officer (Correct answer)
- Leave notes on loose paper at the guard post
- Only handover if there were incidents during the shift
Correct answer: Provide a written handover in the Occurrence Book and brief the incoming officer
A written handover in the Occurrence Book combined with a verbal briefing ensures continuity of information and that the incoming officer is fully aware of all relevant matters.
Question 3: A CCTV recording that captured a theft incident should be:
- Overwritten after 24 hours as per standard practice
- Preserved and secured immediately as potential evidence (Correct answer)
- Shared on social media to identify the suspect
- Deleted to protect the privacy of those recorded
Correct answer: Preserved and secured immediately as potential evidence
CCTV footage of incidents must be preserved as potential evidence for police investigations and should be secured to prevent tampering or accidental deletion.
Question 4: In Singapore, if a security officer witnesses a crime in progress, what is the FIRST action regarding documentation?
- Wait until the end of the shift to write the report
- Mentally note key details immediately and document them as soon as safely possible (Correct answer)
- Ask a colleague to document it while you observe
- Only document after the police have concluded their investigation
Correct answer: Mentally note key details immediately and document them as soon as safely possible
Memory fades quickly, so mentally noting key details immediately and documenting them as soon as safe ensures accuracy while the incident is fresh.
Question 5: Which of the following should a security officer AVOID when writing an incident report?
- Using clear and simple language
- Recording the sequence of events chronologically
- Using jargon, abbreviations, or ambiguous terms (Correct answer)
- Including the names and descriptions of all parties
Correct answer: Using jargon, abbreviations, or ambiguous terms
Jargon and ambiguous terms can cause misunderstandings; reports should use clear, plain language that any reader can understand, including those unfamiliar with security terminology.
Question 6: Under what circumstances should a security officer submit a 'Near Miss' report?
- Only when a serious injury occurs
- Only when property damage exceeds S$1,000
- Whenever an incident could have resulted in harm but fortunately did not (Correct answer)
- Near miss incidents do not require reporting
Correct answer: Whenever an incident could have resulted in harm but fortunately did not
Near miss reports are vital for identifying hazards and preventing future incidents; they allow management to address risks before an actual injury or damage occurs.
Question 7: When a security officer is required to give a statement to the police regarding an incident, the officer should:
- Refuse to give a statement without a lawyer present
- Refer to their contemporaneous notes and provide truthful, accurate information (Correct answer)
- Only share information if instructed by their employer first
- Provide a statement that favours their employer's interests
Correct answer: Refer to their contemporaneous notes and provide truthful, accurate information
Security officers should assist police investigations by providing truthful statements supported by their contemporaneous notes, as this is both a legal obligation and professional duty.
PLRD Incident Reporting and Documentation 2
Which information is ESSENTIAL to include in every incident report?