Can security guards detain individuals?

Security guards can detain individuals under specific circumstances, particularly when they have reasonable grounds to believe that a crime has occurred. This means they must have observable facts or evidence that leads them to suggest that a criminal act is taking place or has just occurred. In many jurisdictions, the law allows security personnel to detain a person briefly to conduct an investigation or to wait for law enforcement to arrive, emphasizing the importance of reasonable grounds in justifying the detention.

This ability to detain is not a blanket authority and is often limited by the nature of the job and the training received. Security guards are generally trained to recognize appropriate situations for detaining individuals, which supports the safety of everyone involved while also protecting the rights of the person being detained. Proper training often includes understanding the legal limits of their authority and ensuring that their actions comply with local laws and regulations.