SIA Guard Report Writing 2

Question 1

What is a 'daily occurrence book' (DOB) in security?

Accepted Answer

A chronological log recording all events, activities, and incidents during a security shift

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

It eliminates confusion between AM and PM times and is the standard used by emergency services

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Being factual, contemporaneous, legible, objective, and made by the person who witnessed the events

Answer

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'?

Accepted Answer

An incident report is an internal record for the company; a statement is a formal document for police or legal proceedings

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Past tense, as the report describes events that have already occurred

Answer

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'.

SIA Security Guard Practice Test

SIA Security Guard Practice Test

SIA Guard Report Writing 2