Does a Security Guard Have the Right to Search You?

 Security guards are also named security officers, protective agents, or security inspectors. Generally, security guard services are hired by the government to secure a business residence or private person to safeguard individuals, money, property, tool, etc, from different kinds of hazards.

Moreover, security guards could save you from any criminal activity, ruined property, unsecure worker actions, etc by enforcing preventive and security measures. These highly trained officers do their duties by sustaining a high perceptibility occurrence to avoid illegal, criminal, and unsuitable actions.  

They are always accessible to look for signs of potential crimes and security hazards. Their eventual responsibilities are to lessen harm to property, make ultimatums, and accompany trespassers off the property. They as well report incidents or crimes in the locality to their customers and emergency services. 

Though, the amount of power that security guard services provide is a point of contention for most individuals. When it comes to stop and search, most individuals wonder if a security guard is authorized to search trespassers. In this blog post we will find out the duties of security guard services in Ontario and if or not they could search you. 

CAN SECURITY GUARDS IN ONTARIO SEARCH YOU?

In Ontario, guards are permitted to search you only if they have an arrest warrant. They could as well search you if they have permission from a governing body and if you are within the authority of that body. Always remember that the power of guards to search is much more restricted than that of police enforcement. 

In most cases, even if you steal anything, the security guards wait for law enforcement to come on the incident. As police of the law, they have the authority to do the searching. 

Plus, if there is a sign stating that searching is a condition in entering, you can reject to be searched. Though, if you reject to let the security guard search, they might ask you to either leave the facility or reject the admission. 

For commercial buildings with precious properties, rejecting to enable a guard to search you might be cause for doubt. In this scenario, they might perform an arrest of a citizen. 

DO YOU HAVE TO GO WITH A GUARD IF THEY ASK YOU?

You could reject to go with a guard if they have not arrested you. Though, the security guard might ask you to leave the facility on behalf of the owner. They could as well reject to let you in, for one cause or the other. 

If you do not leave when they ask, you might be accused of trespassing. If that happens, they could use suitable force to remove you. 

Furthermore, if you are under a citizen’s arrest, they could detain you as long as the police are not yet on the scene. Moreover, they could use suitable force to do this. 

WHAT AUTHORITY DO SECURITY GUARDS IN ONTARIO HAVE?

Security officers under the employ of professional security guards companies might be employed by private individuals or commercial institutions. While a security guard license is crucial, they do not have exclusive lawful authority like law enforcement. 

Though, a guard in a facility over which they have the authority has the legal right to perform the following duties and responsibilities:

1. CITIZEN’S ARREST – If a guard has eye-witnessed an actual crime, they could perform a lawful citizen’s arrest. Arresting becomes more lawful if they have eye-witnessed a crime. Plus, it is important to take note that arrest in essence means detaining the suspect. As private individuals, private security guards are held to similar standards as each other citizens. 

A citizen’s arrest enables the guard to detain the trespasser or criminal while instantly contacting law enforcement to make a valid arrest. Plus, restraints might be used to hold the suspect as long as the restraint is considered rational. 

2. AUTHORITY ON PRIVATE PROPERTY – The authority of a non-police guard is restricted just to the property they have been employed to secure. Along with this, they are authorized to stop an individual from performing banned acts inside the facilities. 

They could as well ask the individual to leave the private property. If the behavior persists, they might detain the person by making a citizen’s arrest. 

3. USE FORCE AND WEAPONS – When it comes to the use of rational force, it is only permitted when detaining an individual on private property. Besides, the use of power must be practical based on the severity of the crime and the risk facing the security guard and other people. 

While rational force is allowed, it is important for guards to act with caution and not with force. They must be cautious not to use unwanted force, particularly if it involves weapons that might cause extreme physical harm and hurt legal proceedings. 

Therefore, if a guard exceeds limitations by detaining or using force out of self-defense then that guard has to face some serious legal consequences. 

4. SEARCH – Generally, a guard is not licensed and permitted to search an individual without their will. Whether they suspect the person owns the stolen property, searching for them or their property is not allowed.

Due to state law’s safety of the individual’s rights, the power to search is highly restricted. A guard’s authority to search an individual or his or her personal property is generally restricted to law enforcement. It should be conducted with a warrant or consent from the suspect. 

Moreover, searching is as well allowed in cases where permission has been accessed by agreement. It is as well permitted when the security agency has required signed contracts stating that searchers might be conducted. 

WHY YOU SHOULD EMPLOY A VIP SECURITY?

Employing VIP security avoids physical harassment. VIP security differs from a regular crowd control or static security service. With this special kind of security service, guards are personally liable for saving a particular individual. 

Underneath are some of the common causes why special individuals and VIPs might be targeted and need safeguarding:

FAME

MONEY

STALKING

POLITICAL OBJECTIVES

OTHER PRIVATE CONCERNS

These are a few causes why VIP security services exist. They are there to save all the VIPs. This type of security as well assists in assure at least some façade of privacy while a person is at home or in places somewhere. 

For instance, if there is no instant danger, over-zealous fans could as well cause harm when they get very close to a specific VIP. The major benefit of employing VIP services is the exposure and protection skills that they provide. 

If you want VIP or any other security guard services, consider Diligent security. We provide all security services to learn more about our services, please visit our website at www.diligentsecurity.ca. 


Location: Brampton, ON, Canada

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