BC Security Guard (BST): Arrest powers and detention

All 22 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. Section 10 (a) of the Charter gives an arrested person the right to be told what?

   1. The reasons for the arrest, promptly
   2. The name of the arresting guard's employer
   3. Whether charges will be laid in court
   4. How long the detention will last

2. Can a B.C. guard make a citizen's arrest for trespass under the provincial Trespass Act?

   1. No, the Act gives arrest power only to peace officers
   2. Yes, if the trespasser still refuses to leave after one full hour
   3. Yes, but only on land that is fully fenced
   4. Yes, after giving the trespasser one warning

3. A person arrested by a guard asks to call a lawyer. Which Charter right is this?

   1. The right to vote and to stand for election
   2. The right to retain and instruct counsel without delay
   3. The right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure
   4. The right to a trial within a reasonable time

4. After arresting a shoplifter, what should the guard do first?

   1. Call police so the person can be handed over right away
   2. Take a photo and post it on the store's wall
   3. Search the shoplifter's car in the parking lot for more stolen goods
   4. Let the manager decide on a store penalty

5. Section 494 (1) (b) allows a citizen's arrest of someone who has committed a criminal offence and is doing what?

   1. Refusing to give their name and address to the store's manager on request
   2. Leaving the premises after a staff argument
   3. Escaping while freshly pursued by people who may arrest
   4. Sitting in a car parked outside the property

6. What arrest powers does a licensed B.C. security guard have?

   1. Police powers on private property only
   2. A private citizen's powers, plus owner's agent powers
   3. No power to arrest anyone in any situation
   4. The powers of a peace officer whenever the guard is wearing a uniform

7. When may an owner's agent arrest a suspect a reasonable time after a property offence?

   1. When the suspect comes back to the same property within one week of the offence
   2. When the stolen item is worth more than $5,000
   3. When the client's manager signs a written arrest order
   4. When they reasonably believe police cannot feasibly make the arrest

8. Before making a citizen's arrest, what is the safest first question a guard should ask themselves?

   1. Is the suspect smaller than I am?
   2. Has the suspect been rude to staff before?
   3. Will my employer approve of the arrest later?
   4. Did I personally see the offence being committed?

9. A guard at a warehouse sees a man spray graffiti on the warehouse wall. Under s. 494 (2), what must the offence be?

   1. An offence committed during business hours
   2. An offence worth more than $5,000 in damage
   3. An offence that is also reported by a second, independent witness
   4. A criminal offence on or in relation to the property

10. Under section 494 (1) (a), anyone may arrest without warrant a person they find committing what?

    1. A municipal bylaw offence
    2. Any provincial offence
    3. An indictable offence
    4. A breach of store policy

11. After a guard makes a citizen's arrest, what must happen to the person?

    1. They may be questioned for up to one hour first
    2. They must be released once they return the goods
    3. They may be held until the store manager decides
    4. They must be delivered to a peace officer forthwith

12. When police arrive after an arrest, which details should the guard be ready to give?

    1. Rumours other staff heard about the suspect
    2. The guard's personal opinion of the suspect's character and morals
    3. A guess about the suspect's criminal record
    4. Exact time and place, descriptions and what was seen

13. Which Charter right is breached if a guard locks a person in a back room for no lawful reason?

    1. The right to equal protection and benefit of the law
    2. The right not to be arbitrarily detained
    3. The right to enter and leave Canada
    4. The right to freedom of religion

14. Why can a guard arrest someone found committing theft under $5,000 under s. 494 (1) (a)?

    1. Store security has special powers for theft
    2. All property offences are indictable, whatever the value of the goods taken
    3. Theft under $5,000 is always a summary offence
    4. It is a hybrid offence, treated as indictable until the Crown elects

15. What standard of belief does s. 494 (1) (b) require about the fleeing person's offence?

    1. A hunch based on the person's appearance
    2. A written complaint signed by the victim
    3. Belief on reasonable grounds that they committed a criminal offence
    4. Proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the same standard a criminal court uses

16. What does the Criminal Code require an arrester to tell the person, where feasible?

    1. The arrester's home address
    2. The value of the property involved
    3. The reason for the arrest
    4. The penalty the person will receive

17. A suspect calmly walks away after a minor theft and is no danger to anyone. What is often the wiser choice?

    1. Chase the suspect into traffic to recover goods
    2. Block the suspect's car with a security vehicle
    3. Tackle the suspect before they reach the door
    4. Observe, note a description and call police

18. How does section 494 (4) link a citizen's arrest to the use of force?

    1. It bans all physical force during a citizen's arrest
    2. It makes the arrester 'authorized by law' for section 25
    3. It requires police to approve force by phone first
    4. It lets the arrester use any force the suspect uses

19. A shopper tells a guard that someone stole a wallet an hour ago. Can the guard arrest under s. 494 (1) (a)?

    1. Yes, if the shopper agrees to sign a statement
    2. Yes, as long as the arrest happens on the property
    3. No, the guard did not find the person committing it
    4. Yes, a reliable report is enough for a citizen's arrest

20. A guard hired by a mall sees a person smash a mall window. Which power fits best?

    1. Detain under the Liquor Control and Licensing Act
    2. No arrest is possible because damage is minor
    3. Arrest under the B.C. Trespass Act as an occupier
    4. Arrest as a person authorized by the property owner

21. A guard sees two patrons start a fistfight in a lobby. What does section 30 allow?

    1. Taking their ID cards until they apologize
    2. Fining both patrons on the spot under the security code of conduct
    3. Stopping it and detaining them for police with reasonable force
    4. Punishing the person who started the fight

22. A guard could not tell a struggling suspect why they were arrested. What is the effect under s. 29?

    1. It does not by itself remove the guard's protection
    2. The guard's security licence is suspended for 30 days by the registrar
    3. The suspect must be released immediately
    4. The arrest becomes automatically unlawful