SIA Physical Intervention 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of physical intervention in door supervision?
- To punish aggressive behaviour
- To protect people from harm and prevent crime (Correct answer)
- To demonstrate authority
- To remove troublemakers as quickly as possible
Correct answer: To protect people from harm and prevent crime
Physical intervention is solely for protection and crime prevention, never for punishment. The SIA code of conduct requires proportionate, justified action.
Question 2: What is a 'compliant escort'?
- When someone agrees to leave and you physically drag them out anyway
- Guiding a willing person to the exit using light physical contact (Correct answer)
- A paid escort service
- When police escort someone out
Correct answer: Guiding a willing person to the exit using light physical contact
A compliant escort uses minimal physical contact (e.g., light hand on shoulder/upper arm) to guide a cooperative person. Excessive force on a compliant person is not justified.
Question 3: What is 'duty of care' in relation to physical intervention?
- Only applies to medical professionals
- The legal obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid causing harm to others (Correct answer)
- Making sure the venue is clean
- Caring about your career development
Correct answer: The legal obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid causing harm to others
Duty of care means you must take reasonable steps to avoid causing foreseeable harm. This applies during and after restraint — including calling medical help if needed.
Question 4: What factor does a court consider when deciding if force was reasonable?
- Whether the door supervisor has martial arts training
- What a reasonable person would have done in the same circumstances with the same knowledge (Correct answer)
- The size difference between the parties
- Whether the venue has CCTV
Correct answer: What a reasonable person would have done in the same circumstances with the same knowledge
The 'reasonable person' test asks what someone with the same knowledge and circumstances would have done. Hindsight is not applied — it's based on what you knew at the time.
Question 5: When should physical intervention be terminated?
- Only when police arrive
- As soon as the threat has been neutralised or the person has been safely removed (Correct answer)
- After exactly 5 minutes
- When the head doorman says so
Correct answer: As soon as the threat has been neutralised or the person has been safely removed
Continuing to use force after the threat has ended or the objective has been achieved makes the force unreasonable and potentially unlawful.
Question 6: What is the risk of restraining someone in a prone (face-down) position?
- They might damage their clothing
- Significantly increased risk of positional asphyxia and death (Correct answer)
- They can bite the floor
- There is no additional risk
Correct answer: Significantly increased risk of positional asphyxia and death
Prone restraint compresses the chest and abdomen, restricting breathing. Combined with obesity, intoxication, or drug use, this can be rapidly fatal.
SIA Physical Intervention 3
What is the primary purpose of physical intervention in door supervision?