SIA Physical Intervention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'reasonable force' in legal terms?
- Any force a door supervisor decides to use
- The minimum force necessary to achieve a lawful objective (Correct answer)
- Force that doesn't leave visible marks
- Force approved by venue management
Correct answer: The minimum force necessary to achieve a lawful objective
Reasonable force is the minimum level necessary. Courts consider what a reasonable person would have done in the same circumstances.
Question 2: Under what legislation does the right to use reasonable force exist?
- The SIA Act 2001
- Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 (Correct answer)
- The Health and Safety Act 1974
- The Equality Act 2010
Correct answer: Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967
Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 provides the legal basis for using reasonable force to prevent crime.
Question 3: What is 'pre-emptive force' and when might it be justified?
- Hitting someone before they hit you, never justified
- Striking first when you genuinely believe an attack is imminent and unavoidable (Correct answer)
- Any force used before midnight
- Force used before the police arrive
Correct answer: Striking first when you genuinely believe an attack is imminent and unavoidable
Pre-emptive force may be lawful if you genuinely and honestly believe an attack is imminent. However, you must be able to justify your belief objectively.
Question 4: How many people should ideally be involved in restraining a person?
- One — to avoid confusion
- At least three — one per limb area plus a team leader to monitor (Correct answer)
- As many as possible
- It doesn't matter how many
Correct answer: At least three — one per limb area plus a team leader to monitor
A minimum of three people is recommended: one for upper body, one for lower body, and a team leader to monitor breathing and coordinate. This reduces risk of positional asphyxia.
Question 5: What is 'excited delirium' and why is it dangerous during restraint?
- A happy feeling from too much dancing
- A medical emergency involving extreme agitation, hyperthermia, and risk of sudden death (Correct answer)
- Excitement about getting into the venue
- A type of drug commonly found at raves
Correct answer: A medical emergency involving extreme agitation, hyperthermia, and risk of sudden death
Excited delirium involves extreme agitation, insensitivity to pain, elevated body temperature, and can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Physical restraint increases the danger significantly.
Question 6: What should you do if a restrained person says they cannot breathe?
- Ignore it — they're just trying to get released
- Immediately reassess the restraint position and ensure their airway is clear (Correct answer)
- Tell them to breathe through their nose
- Wait for paramedics
Correct answer: Immediately reassess the restraint position and ensure their airway is clear
NEVER ignore complaints about breathing. Immediately adjust the restraint position, ensure the airway is clear, and call for medical assistance. Deaths have occurred when breathing complaints were ignored.
SIA Physical Intervention 2
What is 'reasonable force' in legal terms?