The role of security guards in the province of British Columbia has certainly changed over the past several years. Normally, one would be hired to act as a greeter at the front door of office buildings, as a person who unlocked doors and checked on loading bays from time to time, shooing away undesireables at night. There was no real need for the guard to be "on patrol", checking properties at random, and finding a whole host of issues, ranging from the common trespasser, all the way up to illegal activities such as prostitution, and theft from auto, to name a few.

The government, from my basic understanding, was required to implement some manner of legislation to dictate the policies and procedures by which a person could work as a private security officer in the the province of British Columbia. I will not go into any specifics of the act, known as PISA, in the article. Rather, I will use my personal experiences to explain why I believe that certain changes should be made to the act.

Part one of this article deals with batons and handcuffs.

The hotly contested dilemma which prevents guards carrying and using handcuffs in BC. Internal and LP security aside, the common guard on the beat is unable to safely restrain a person whom he places under arrest. As with most people who have not had the "pleasure" of wrestling with a drunk shoplifter as he tries to make good his escape from custody, the general public will state that guards are not police, and only the police should carry cuffs. But for most people who have had to place someone under arrest, there are glaring reasons why a set of cuffs, properly applied, could make all the difference in the world. The first is the safety of the suspect.

Example: a person is arrested for break and enter. He is being escorted, uncuffed, back to the office to await the arrival of the police. Perhaps he is even held at the scene. Nevertheless, the makes an attempt to run, and in the process of fighting, strikes his head against a curb. He is now unconscious, bleeding heavily, and must be taken to the hospital. The cause of the injury was the guard attempting to prevent the escape of a person placed under arrest. The result? If the suspect does not suffer to the point of permanent brain injury, he, or his family, will undoubtedly be calling the company, demanding answers, and/or a civil suit. Criminal charges? In this day and age, who knows? And who wants to take the chance?

The same example revisited, with the suspect cuffed (behind his back). He is able to be controlled more easily, and the psychological aspect of being restrained may dissuade him from trying to run. It is not a 100% sure thing, but a better chance of him staying put than were he not cuffed at all. As well, I am sure that any of us in this field have had the attending officer ask why cuffs were not used. And the follow-up comment, which I have had several times, "you should carry a pair anyways".

The next issue is the use of impact weapons, AKA batons. A common tool used these days, the baton is an excellent device that, when properly applied, can diffuse a violent situation. By diffuse, I do not actually mean that the baton must be used, but rather, can be employed in several manners. The lowest force level is for the suspect to see that the guard does indeed have the means to protect himself from a direct assault. Simply having the baton can keep some people at bay, and can open the door for further use of verbal techniques, ending in the person leaving peacefully (well, with some yelling and swearing, but hey, that's part of the job.)

The next level, is to place a hand on the baton. Again, suspect sees that the odds may not be totally on his side, and he back down enough for dialogue to take place. The third level is removing the baton. Fourth, is to extend the baton, and place it in the ready position. At this, and all other points, the smart guard is using his mouth, and his  words, to ensure that the person knows exactly what is going on. And finally, the use of the baton, but only if: 1) the suspect is approaching in a manner that the guard feels will result in him being hurt 2) the suspect has ignored the guard, and is in the "thousand yard stare" mode, moving in and not complying with verbal commands, or 3) any of the first two situations, but with the guard not having a route for escape.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to understand that leaving is not a cowardly option. If the person pulls a knife, you do nothing except to LEAVE the immediate area, using dialogue to let the suspect know you have no intention of stopping him. Keep backing away, and stress that you want the suspect to do the same. Call the police, as even the most experienced constable would understand why you did not engage the knife wielding suspect. Follow what procedures your company has, but do not engage. Again, the baton is a tool that usually works for some situations. It is not the be all and end all of conflict resolution.

With both handcuffs and batons, it is my opinion that with proper training, a guard can be fully ready to employ these tools in a safe and professional manner. And with that, I question why the government of BC is so very much prepared to keep placing guards in life threatening situations? The course offered for guard training, BST 1 and 2, are nowhere near enough to get a person ready to deal with the angry drunk, the drug addled thief, or the domestic dispute that takes place in the mall parking lot.

More on this, in my second part to this article, roles of security. Comments appreciated, and sorry in advance for any spelling mistakes.