Contents:
- What Can Security Guards Take From You?
- Can Security Guards Confiscate Items?
- Can Security Guards Take My Passport?
- Can Security Guards Take My Driver’s Licence?
- Can Security Guards Take My Camera?
- Can Security Guards Take Your Photo?
- Can Security Guards Take My Property?
- Can A Security Guard Take Your Phone?
- Can A Security Guard Take Your ID?
- Can Security Guards Touch Your Belongings?
There are many misconceptions and myths about the rules on what a security guard can and can’t do. One of the most common ones is whether a security guard can legally take something that belongs to you.
So, what can a security guard take from you? Are they allowed to take your photo? Can a security guard take your driving licence? We’ll be discussing this and more, such as if guards are allowed to touch your property like your passport.
What Can Security Guards Take From You?
Many people wonder what guards are legally allowed to take from you. And honestly, security guards won’t be able to take your belongings such as your driver’s licence without your consent or permission. However, if your property is a fake ID then guards will be able to take this off you.
Can Security Guards Confiscate Items?
As we mentioned above, guards aren’t allowed to take your property or belongings. But there are a few instances where they will be allowed to confiscate items from you. For example, if you are using a fake ID to gain access to a licenced premise such as a bar, security guards will be allowed to take your fake ID off you.
Can Security Guards Take My Passport?
No, a security guard cannot take your passport from you. They are allowed to ask your permission to look at it to verify your age if the situation calls for it, but they cannot take it away from you.
The only instance where guards would be able to take your passport is if the individual is using a fake ID to gain access to a venue that requires you to be over 18. In the UK, it is a criminal offence for people to use a fake ID to gain entry to licenced venues such as pubs and clubs.
Can Security Guards Take My Driver’s Licence?
A common question asked is whether security guards can take your driver’s licence off you. And no, security guards won’t be able to take your real driver’s licence off you. But if you are using a fake driver’s licence, guards will be allowed to take this. Security guards will often ask to see your driver’s licence to verify your age if you are entering an over-18 event or a licenced venue such as a pub or club.
Can Security Guards Take My Camera?
Although many people believe security guards can take cameras away, this isn’t true. Security guards cannot take your camera from you. And they aren’t allowed to delete images or obstruct any individuals from taking photographs. UK law on photography can be seen as very liberal as people are allowed to take photos in public places. An offence would only committed if the photographs that are being taken are considered as indecent photos.
Public place are areas where the public are allowed to freely access without permission. So, it is perfectly legal to take photographs of people, objects, and buildings if they are part of a public place. If you are taking photos of a private property, then the owners are allowed to claim a right to privacy. And they may stop photography taking place on their property.
Can Security Guards Take Your Photo?
A common question asked by many is can a security guard take my picture? And well, a security guard is allowed to take a photograph of you; as it is legal to take photographs of people in public places. In the UK, nobody has the right to:
- Ask a photographer to stop taking photos.
- Ask for a copy of the photos.
- Force a photographer to delete the photographs.
So, because of these laws, security guards will be within their right to take a photo of you for the purposes of their job. An example of where this might occur would be if a retail security guard needed to take a photo of someone who had been caught shoplifting. Security guards will sometimes use photographs to help them identify potential suspects.
Can Security Guards Take My Property?
No, security guards aren’t allowed to take your property. They are not allowed to carry out a search on an individual and their property unless they are given explicit permission to do so. No wallets, bags or purses may be searched by a security guard unless they have asked you and you have given them permission.
They do have the right, however, to search your property if it is left unattended and it is considered as suspicious. They can also conduct a search on somebody who is unconscious to find an ID as this helps to identify who the person is and this this can benefit the person’s welfare.
Can A Security Guard Take Your Phone?
Security guards don’t have the power or the authority to take your belongings away from you. So, they won’t be allowed to take your phone. Security guards aren’t allowed to force search anyone either, so they won’t be allowed to look at your phone unless you have given them permission.
Can A Security Guard Take Your ID?
Security guards who work at licenced premises like bars or at events that will serve alcohol will often have to check people’s IDs. And in most cases, security guards aren’t allowed to take your belongings from you but this slightly differs when it comes to your ID.
If you are carrying a real ID such as a driver’s licence or passport then, guards won’t be allowed to take this off you. However, if you are using a fake ID then security guards will be allowed to confiscate this from you. When a security guard is taking a fake ID off you – they will give it to the police as soon as possible.
Can Security Guards Touch Your Belongings?
So, we have talked about what guards are allowed to take from you but are security guards allowed to touch your belongings? Well, in most cases security guards won’t be allowed to search or touch your belongings without your explicit permission and consent.
However, there are some rare instances where a guard may be allowed to touch your belongings. For example, if someone is unconscious security officers may go through the person’s belongings to find their ID. As this can help them identify who the person is.
So, What Can Security Guards Take From You?
So, security guards are not allowed to confiscate or take anything that belongs to you. This includes your passport, driver’s licence, camera, and property. The only exception is if you have a fake ID which is used to gain access to licenced premises.
But if even then, then it must be passed onto the police as soon as possible and not detained by the staff or the premises. When it comes to your photo, security guards will only be allowed to take it for the purpose of their job. For example, a guard may take your photo if they believe you are a suspect or to help them identify any potential threats.
If you are interested in learning more about what security guards are allowed to do, why not take a look through our security guard articles on our blog? Where you can find articles about what it’s like to be a security officer and what guards are allowed to carry.
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