Rules, powers and responsibility of the security guard

No part of guard work is more important than knowing your own limits. A guard who does not know what he is allowed to do is dangerous — both to the public and to himself. The rules are not a hindrance but what makes the work lawful and trust possible. Here are the central frameworks.

§Authorisation and Approval

In Denmark you can only operate a security business with authorization and staff must be approved by the authorities. To be approved you must among other things be 18 years old have a clean criminal record (good character) and have completed the required security training. The rules are found in the security business act with associated regulations. This means security work is a regulated profession — not something you just start doing.

§Security is not the police

The most important basic rule is that a guard does not have police authority. You cannot interrogate punish or use force like the police. Your task is to prevent observe report and if necessary call the police. If you exceed your authority you can yourself be held criminally responsible. Knowing the limit is a core competence.

§Magtanvendelse og nødværge

A security guard has as a starting point the same rights as any other citizen — not more. This means that physical intervention can only come into consideration within the self-defense rules: one may defend oneself or others against an unlawful attack but only with means that stand in reasonable proportion to the attack. Any use of force must be necessary and justified and must always be reported. Unnecessary or excessive force is illegal.

§Containment

A security guard does not have a special right to arrest beyond the civil arrest right that applies to all citizens and which is narrow. If one holds a person the police must be called immediately and the detention must be as brief and humane as possible. One must know this boundary well because wrongful detention can in itself be illegal.

§Monitoring and privacy

Camera surveillance and processing of personal data are regulated. Monitoring of places where the public moves requires in principle clear signage, and recordings can only be stored and used according to the rules. Personal data rules set limits on what may be recorded and stored about people. As a guard, you must know the rules that apply at your workplace.

§Confidentiality obligation and ethics

A security guard often gains access to confidential matters — the company's, customers' and persons'. Confidentiality and discretion are a given: what you see and hear at work you do not share. Added to this is a professional ethics about appearing objective neutral and respectful regardless of who you are dealing with. Your credibility is part of your professionalism.

• 01Be approved: authorisation/approval, at least 18 years old, clean criminal record, education
• 02Know the limit: you do not have police powers
• 03Magt er sidste udvej: kun nødvendig og forsvarlig, altid rapporteret
• 04Containment: call police immediately, be gentle
• 05Discretion: confidentiality and objective, neutral conduct

“A guard's greatest professionalism is not to be able to intervene but to know exactly when he is not allowed to.”