British Columbia Basic Security Training (BC BST) Practice Exam 2025

What is the primary reason an SP cannot lawfully arrest an accused person without witnessing the act?

1. A lack of direct witness to the crime

2. The need for police authorization

3. Inadequate evidence of wrongdoing

4. Failure to inform the accused of their rights

The correct answer is: A lack of direct witness to the crime

The primary reason a security person (SP) cannot lawfully arrest an accused person without witnessing the act is due to a lack of direct witness to the crime. In British Columbia, as in many jurisdictions, private security personnel have specific limitations on their authority, which generally requires them to observe a crime in progress in order to make an arrest. This is rooted in the principle that an arrest must be based on firsthand knowledge of criminal activity, ensuring that the rights of individuals are protected and preventing undue detention based on assumptions or hearsay. In other contexts, such as the need for police authorization, although there are situations where security personnel may need to involve the police, this does not directly relate to the immediate authority to arrest without witnessing a crime. Inadequate evidence of wrongdoing pertains to situations where an arrest might be made based on assumptions, but again, that ties back to witnessing the act. Additionally, failing to inform the accused of their rights is a critical factor during the arrest process, but the ability to arrest initially hinges on having witnessed the crime. Therefore, not having direct evidence through witnessing the act is fundamentally what limits an SP's authority to make an arrest.