A security operative has the same power of arrest as any other member of the public, and no more.[1] In England and Wales that power, under section 24A of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, covers indictable offences only, and can be used only when it is necessary for one of four listed reasons and a constable cannot reasonably make the arrest instead.[2][3][4]
The Acts quoted here are the law of England and Wales. This guide does not describe the law in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Who you can arrest
Section 24A gives a person other than a constable two separate powers.[2][5]
- While an indictable offence is being committed: you may arrest anyone who is in the act of committing it, or anyone you have reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing it.[2]
- Where an indictable offence has been committed: you may arrest anyone who is guilty of it, or anyone you have reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it.[5][6]
Where an indictable offence has been committed, a person other than a constable may arrest without a warrant
Notice the words the second power starts with. It applies where an indictable offence has been committed, so a suspicion that one might have been committed, when none was, falls outside it.[5]
The specification describes indictable offences as those usually tried at the Crown Court.[7]
The conditions that must also be met
An indictable offence is not enough on its own. Both powers can be used only if you have reasonable grounds for believing the arrest is necessary for one of the reasons in the section, and it appears to you that it is not reasonably practicable for a constable to make it instead.[3]
The reasons are to prevent the person:[4]
- causing physical injury to themselves or anyone else;[4]
- suffering physical injury;[4]
- causing loss of or damage to property;[4]
- making off before a constable can take responsibility for them.[4]
The section also states that it does not apply to offences under Part 3 or 3A of the Public Order Act 1986.[8]
Why arrest is a last resort
The specification defines arrest as taking away someone’s liberty, and gives four reasons to treat it as a last resort: taking someone’s liberty is a serious matter, you can arrest only for indictable offences, a false arrest can lead to civil or criminal proceedings against the person who made it, and your own safety may be at risk.[9][10]
A security officer responding to an incident is told to consider arrest if an indictable offence has been committed, after following assignment instructions, reporting to the control room and assessing the risk.[11]
Making the arrest
- Tell the person they are under arrest, give the reason, and tell them the police will be called.[12]
- Detain them and keep them safe.[12]
- Use witnesses wherever possible.[12]
- Use only reasonable and necessary force, to stop them escaping or to prevent an assault on you or anyone else.[12]
Once arrested, the person is your responsibility until you hand them to the police with the reason for the arrest and any evidence you know of.[13] The incident reports guide covers the record you then make.
Reasonable force
Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows a person to use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances to prevent crime, or to make or assist in the lawful arrest of offenders, suspected offenders or people unlawfully at large.[14]
A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or of persons unlawfully at large.
Two words in that section carry the weight. The force must be reasonable in the circumstances, and an arrest it supports must be lawful, so force used to make an arrest that section 24A did not allow is not covered by that part of the section.[14]
The same section replaced the older common law rules on when force used for those purposes is justified.[15]
At a licensed venue, the door supervisor specification adds that someone who refuses to leave when asked becomes a trespasser and can be ejected using only such force as is reasonable and necessary.[16]
Police officers have a separate power to use reasonable force when exercising powers under the 1984 Act. It is written for constables and does not extend to a security operative.[17]
The risk of harm
Restraint carries real risk. The security officer specification warns that forceful restraint can lead to medical complications, sudden death or permanent disability, especially where situational and individual risk factors are present, and that restraint impairing breathing or circulation increases the risk of death through positional asphyxia.[18]
It also sets the limits of your own role: stay within your training, skills and physical capabilities, and ask for assistance when appropriate.[19]
Citizen’s arrest is a unit in the Door Supervisor mock test, and every answer there cites the section it relies on.
Questions people ask
Can I arrest someone for an offence that is not indictable?
Not under section 24A, which covers indictable offences only, and even then only when the necessity and practicability conditions are met.[2][3]
Do door supervisors have more power of arrest than the public?
No. The specification states that security operatives have no special powers of arrest.[1]
What if I get it wrong?
The specification warns that a false arrest can lead to civil or criminal proceedings against the security operative who made it.[10]
What this guide does not cover
- Which particular offences are indictable. That depends on how each offence can be tried, and our source store does not hold a list we can rely on, so this guide gives no examples.
- Breach of the peace. The specification mentions it, but it is a common law matter and we hold no source for it.
- Offences under Part 3 and 3A of the Public Order Act 1986, which section 24A excludes. Those Parts are not in our source store.
- Arrest and use of force in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Physical intervention techniques, which are taught and assessed in person.
Where to go next
Sources
Each passage below is quoted from the copy of the document we checked on the date shown. Follow the link to read it in full on the publisher’s site.
Security operatives have no special powers of arrest, only the same powers of arrest as every other citizen
1. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 1, criterion 3.2, page 39UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026anyone who is in the act of committing an indictable offence; anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing an indictable offence.
2. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 24A(1)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026the person making the arrest has reasonable grounds for believing that for any of the reasons mentioned in subsection (4) it is necessary to arrest the person in question; and it appears to the person making the arrest that it is not reasonably practicable for a constable to make it instead.
3. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 24A(3)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026causing physical injury to himself or any other person; suffering physical injury; causing loss of or damage to property; or making off before a constable can assume responsibility for him.
4. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 24A(4)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026Where an indictable offence has been committed, a person other than a constable may arrest without a warrant
5. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 24A(2)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026anyone who is guilty of the offence; anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it.
6. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 24A(2)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026Indictable offences are usually tried at the Crown Court
7. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 1, criterion 3.2, page 39UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026This section does not apply in relation to an offence under Part 3 or 3A of the Public Order Act 1986.
8. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 24A(5)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026Arrest is to take away someone’s liberty
9. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 1, criterion 3.1, page 39UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026Taking someone’s liberty is a serious matter; Can only arrest for indictable offences; False arrest can lead to civil or criminal prosecution of the security operative making the arrest; Personal safety of the security operative can be at risk.
10. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 1, criterion 3.5, page 41UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026Follow assignment instructions; Report to control room; Carry out dynamic risk assessment; Cordon off area; Protect evidence; Call the emergency services (if appropriate); Direct CCTV coverage to area (if possible); If an indictable offence has been committed, consider arrest.
11. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 2, criterion 7.7, page 99UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026Inform person that they are under arrest, provide the reason for the arrest and that the police will be called; Detain the person and ensure their safety; Use witnesses wherever possible; Only use reasonable and necessary force to prevent escape of individual under arrest or assault against security operatives or others.
12. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 1, criterion 3.4, page 41UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026The arrested person is now the security operative’s responsibility; Ensure own safety; Ensure the person’s safety; Ensure any evidence is preserved and not disposed of; Hand person over to police, explaining reason for arrest; Inform police of any extra evidence of offence (witnesses, CCTV, property)
13. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 1, criterion 3.6, page 41UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026A person may use such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in the prevention of crime, or in effecting or assisting in the lawful arrest of offenders or suspected offenders or of persons unlawfully at large.
14. legislation.gov.ukCriminal Law Act 1967 (opens in a new tab)Section 3(1)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026Subsection (1) above shall replace the rules of the common law on the question when force used for a purpose mentioned in the subsection is justified by that purpose.
15. legislation.gov.ukCriminal Law Act 1967 (opens in a new tab)Section 3(2)England and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026Anyone refusing to leave the premises when asked becomes a trespasser and can be lawfully ejected from the premises using only such force as is reasonable and necessary.
16. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 2, criterion 5.2, page 86UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026confers a power on a constable; and does not provide that the power may only be exercised with the consent of some person, other than a police officer, the officer may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of the power.
17. legislation.gov.ukPolice and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (opens in a new tab)Section 117: power of constable to use reasonable forceEngland and Wales · Checked 5 Sept 2026restraint on the ground (face up and face down) or other position that impairs breathing and/or circulation and increases risk of death through positional asphyxia; - any forceful restraint can lead to medical complications, sudden death or permanent disability especially where situational and individual risk factors are present
18. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 2, criterion 4.10, page 83UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026Describe limits of own responsibility in physical intervention situations; Work within own training, skillset and physical capabilities; Request assistance when appropriate
19. Pearson Education LimitedBTEC Level 2 Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry: Specification (opens in a new tab)Unit 2, criterion 4.9, page 82UK wide · Checked 5 Sept 2026
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