SIA Guard Report Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'daily occurrence book' (DOB) in security?
- A diary for personal appointments
- A chronological log recording all events, activities, and incidents during a security shift (Correct answer)
- A book for recording weather conditions
- A staff attendance register
Correct answer: A chronological log recording all events, activities, and incidents during a security shift
The DOB (also called an occurrence book or security log) is a chronological record of everything that happens during a shift — patrols, incidents, visitors, deliveries, equipment checks, alarm activations, and handover notes.
Question 2: Why should a security guard use the 24-hour clock when writing reports?
- It looks more professional
- It eliminates confusion between AM and PM times and is the standard used by emergency services (Correct answer)
- It is required by law
- It takes up less space on the page
Correct answer: It eliminates confusion between AM and PM times and is the standard used by emergency services
The 24-hour clock eliminates ambiguity between AM and PM (e.g., 0800 vs 2000), aligns with emergency services and military time standards, and ensures precision in legal documents and evidence.
Question 3: What makes a security report admissible as evidence in court?
- Being typed on official paper
- Being factual, contemporaneous, legible, objective, and made by the person who witnessed the events (Correct answer)
- Being long and detailed
- Being signed by a solicitor
Correct answer: Being factual, contemporaneous, legible, objective, and made by the person who witnessed the events
For a report to be admissible as evidence, it should be: factual (not opinion), made contemporaneously (at the time), legible, objective, written by the person who witnessed the events, and free from alterations or corrections that could suggest tampering.
Question 4: What is the difference between a 'statement' and an 'incident report'?
- There is no difference
- An incident report is an internal record for the company; a statement is a formal document for police or legal proceedings (Correct answer)
- An incident report is longer
- A statement is always handwritten
Correct answer: An incident report is an internal record for the company; a statement is a formal document for police or legal proceedings
An incident report is an internal document used by the security company and client. A statement (or witness statement) is a formal legal document, usually made for the police, that may be used as evidence in court.
Question 5: How should a security guard describe actions in a report — past tense or present tense?
- Present tense always
- Past tense, as the report describes events that have already occurred (Correct answer)
- Future tense
- Any tense is acceptable
Correct answer: Past tense, as the report describes events that have already occurred
Reports should be written in the past tense because they describe events that have already happened. For example: 'I observed a male individual enter the car park at 2230 hrs' — not 'I observe'.
Question 6: What does 'IIMARCH' stand for in security reporting?
- It is not a real acronym
- Information, Intention, Method, Administration, Risk assessment, Communications, Human rights (Correct answer)
- Incident, Investigation, Management, Analysis, Report, Communication, Handover
- Initial, Immediate, Medical, Ambulance, Recovery, Check, Hospital
Correct answer: Information, Intention, Method, Administration, Risk assessment, Communications, Human rights
IIMARCH is a briefing and reporting structure: Information (what happened), Intention (what you plan to do), Method (how you will do it), Administration (logistics), Risk assessment, Communications (how to communicate), and Human rights (consider rights of those involved).
SIA Guard Report Writing 2
What is a 'daily occurrence book' (DOB) in security?