SIA GUARD Cheat Sheet 2026

The 25 highest-yield SIA GUARD facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. If a security officer suspects a white powder has been released from a suspicious package, what is the FIRST action they should take? → Evacuate the immediate area and prevent others from entering
2. What should a security officer do FIRST upon discovering a suspicious package? → Do not touch it, keep people away and immediately alert the police
3. What are the four strands of the UK government's counter-terrorism strategy known as CONTEST? → Prevent, Pursue, Protect, Prepare
4. In first aid awareness, what does the 'ABC' primary survey stand for? → Airway, Breathing, Circulation
5. After making a citizen's arrest, what must a security guard do with the person they have arrested? → Deliver the arrested person to a constable as soon as practicable after the arrest
6. What is the maximum travel distance to a fire exit in a building with a single escape route? → 18 metres for normal risk
7. What does the 'Prevent' strand of the CONTEST strategy aim to do? → Stop people from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism through early intervention
8. What does the 'Run, Hide, Tell' guidance advise in the event of a terrorist firearms or weapons attack? → Run away if safe to do so, hide if running is not possible, tell the police when safe
9. What are the three categories of access control measures? → Physical, electronic, and procedural
10. What does 'contemporaneous' mean in relation to note-taking? → Notes made at the time of or as soon as reasonably practicable after the event
11. What is the minimum age requirement to apply for an SIA Security Guard licence? → 18 years old
12. What is the recommended minimum safe evacuation distance from a suspected car bomb? → 200 metres
13. What is the recovery position used for? → To maintain an open airway in an unconscious casualty who is breathing normally
14. What does CBRN stand for in the context of terrorist threats? → Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear
15. Which type of fire extinguisher should be used on an electrical fire? → CO2 (black)
16. What powers does a security guard have to search members of the public? → No power to search without consent — they can only search with the person's agreement
17. What are the five classes of fire? → A (solids), B (liquids), C (gases), D (metals), F (cooking oils/fats)
18. What are the signs and symptoms of shock? → Pale, cold, and clammy skin, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, dizziness, and nausea
19. Which Act of Parliament established the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and created the licensing regime for private security operatives? → The Private Security Industry Act 2001
20. What should you do if you find a person who is unresponsive and not breathing normally? → Call 999 and begin CPR immediately
21. What is the first thing you should do before providing first aid to a casualty? → Check that the scene is safe for you and the casualty
22. What does the acronym HOT stand for when assessing a suspicious package? → Hidden, Owner absent, Threatening in appearance
23. What is the UK's five-tier terrorist threat level system, from lowest to highest? → Low, Moderate, Substantial, Severe, Critical
24. What is the most important action for a security officer after safely evacuating an area following a bomb threat? → Contact their supervisor and await instructions from the police
25. Which legislation prohibits security guards from carrying offensive weapons or having them in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse? → The Prevention of Crime Act 1953 and the Criminal Justice Act 1988