Security guards are often the first line of defense in protecting people and property, but their role isn’t always as simple as it seems. They’re trained to handle everything from patrolling premises to responding to emergencies—but there are limits to their authority.
Whether you’re a property owner, business manager, or someone curious about how security works, it’s important to know what security guard companies in Miami can and can’t do. Understanding these boundaries ensures that security operations stay within the law, all while keeping you safe and secure.
What Security Guards Are Allowed to Do
1. Enforce Property Rules and Regulations
Security guards are tasked with enforcing the rules of the property they are hired to protect. This includes ensuring that individuals follow the guidelines set by the property owners or management, such as access control, dress codes, and other specific regulations.
Guards may also ask people to leave the premises if they are violating the rules, but their authority is typically limited to the rules of the specific site.
2. Monitor Surveillance Equipment
One of the key responsibilities of a security guard is to monitor surveillance systems, including security cameras, alarms, and other security technology. By keeping an eye on these systems, guards can detect potential threats, alert law enforcement, and respond quickly to prevent incidents from escalating.
3. Perform Regular Patrols
Patrolling the premises is one of the most common duties of a security guard. Regular foot or vehicle patrols help deter criminal activity and ensure the property remains secure. Security guards often check doors, windows, and gates to confirm that they are locked, secure, and functioning properly.
Patrolling also lets guards identify any potential security weaknesses or suspicious activity that might need further investigation.
4. Detain Individuals (Under Certain Conditions)
In specific situations, security guards have the right to detain individuals. This generally occurs when a guard observes someone committing a crime, such as theft, trespassing, or vandalism. The detention is meant to hold the individual until law enforcement arrives.
However, security guards must exercise caution and avoid using excessive force, ensuring they act within the limits of the law.
5. Coordinate with Law Enforcement
While security guards are not law enforcement officers, they often work closely with the police or other emergency services. In the event of a crime, fire, or medical emergency, security guards can alert law enforcement and help coordinate the response.
Their role as the first point of contact allows them to provide valuable information to authorities, ensuring a quicker and more efficient resolution.
What Security Guards Are Not Allowed to Do
1. Use Excessive Force
Security guards are limited in the amount of force they can use to protect themselves and others. Excessive force—such as physical violence that goes beyond what is necessary for self-defense or protecting others—is prohibited.
Security guards are trained to handle situations calmly and professionally, using minimal force to resolve issues. They must avoid escalating situations unnecessarily and should only use force when required for safety.
2. Make Arrests
While security guards can detain individuals in certain circumstances, they do not have the authority to make formal arrests. Only law enforcement officers are empowered to arrest individuals under the law.
After detaining a suspect, a security guard’s role is to hold the person until the police arrive. Any attempt to make an arrest could result in legal complications and liabilities.
3. Carry Firearms (Unless Specifically Authorized)
The ability of a security guard to carry firearms depends on the job requirements and local regulations. In many cases, security guards are not permitted to carry weapons unless they have received specialized training and are employed in high-risk environments where armed security is necessary.
For those who are authorized to carry firearms, the use of force must always be proportional to the threat faced.
4. Search Individuals or Property Without Consent
Security guards do not have the legal right to search people, bags, or property unless given explicit consent. In some cases, security guards may conduct searches with the permission of the individual or as part of a policy on the premises (such as at events or high-security areas).
However, without consent, they cannot engage in searches as law enforcement officers can.
5. Engage in Personal or Civil Disputes
Security guards are hired to ensure safety and protect property, not to intervene in personal disputes. They are not authorized to mediate civil matters, such as domestic issues or conflicts between individuals, unless it directly impacts safety.
Guards must remain neutral and professional, stepping in only when necessary to prevent harm.
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