SIA Door UK Security Legislation & Powers of Arrest 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Criminal Law Act 1967, who can make a citizen's arrest in England and Wales?
- Any person (Correct answer)
- Only police officers
- Only licensed security staff
- Only magistrates
Correct answer: Any person
The Criminal Law Act 1967 allows any person to arrest someone they reasonably suspect of committing an indictable offence, giving door supervisors this legal power.
Question 2: Which Act primarily governs the licensing of door supervisors in the UK?
- Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Correct answer)
- Security Industry Act 1995
- Licensing Act 2003
- Police Reform Act 2002
Correct answer: Private Security Industry Act 2001
The Private Security Industry Act 2001 established the SIA and makes it a criminal offence to work as a door supervisor without a valid licence.
Question 3: What does 'reasonable force' mean in the context of a door supervisor's powers?
- Force proportionate to the threat faced (Correct answer)
- Any force necessary to subdue a person
- Force authorised by a police officer
- Minimum verbal force only
Correct answer: Force proportionate to the threat faced
Reasonable force must be proportionate to the threat; excessive force can lead to criminal liability for the door supervisor.
Question 4: Which offence under the Public Order Act 1986 involves threatening or abusive words likely to cause harassment?
- Section 4 – Fear or provocation of violence (Correct answer)
- Section 1 – Riot
- Section 8 – Disorderly conduct
- Section 12 – Affray
Correct answer: Section 4 – Fear or provocation of violence
Section 4 of the Public Order Act 1986 covers threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour likely to cause a person to believe immediate unlawful violence will be used.
Question 5: A door supervisor detains someone pending police arrival. Under which legal basis is this justified?
- Citizen's arrest under the Criminal Law Act 1967 (Correct answer)
- Common law powers of detention
- Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 s.24
- Vagrancy Act 1824
Correct answer: Citizen's arrest under the Criminal Law Act 1967
Door supervisors use citizen's arrest powers under the Criminal Law Act 1967 to detain a person until police arrive.
Question 6: What must a door supervisor tell a person they are detaining?
- That they are under arrest and the reason why (Correct answer)
- Only that they must wait for police
- Nothing until police arrive
- Their SIA licence number
Correct answer: That they are under arrest and the reason why
A person being detained must be informed they are under arrest and the grounds for that arrest; failure to do so can make the detention unlawful.
SIA Door UK Security Legislation & Powers of Arrest 1
Under the Criminal Law Act 1967, who can make a citizen's arrest in England and Wales?