Physical Intervention Skills

What is 'reasonable force' in the context of door supervision?

• AForce is never allowed in any circumstances at licensed premises in the UK
• BWhatever level of force the door supervisor personally believes is necessary
• CForce that is proportionate to the threat and necessary to prevent harm✓
• DAs much force as possible

Answer: Reasonable force is proportionate to the threat and is the minimum necessary to prevent harm or protect persons or property. It must be justified and defensible in law.

What is the legal test for using physical force in the UK?

• APolice approval must be obtained before any force is used
• BForce must be necessary, proportionate, and lawful✓
• COnly SIA-approved security companies are permitted to use force
• DYou may use whatever level of force you feel like using at the time

Answer: Under common law and the Criminal Law Act 1967, force must be necessary to prevent crime or protect persons/property, and must be proportionate to the threat. Excessive force is unlawful.

Can a door supervisor legally use physical force to remove someone from a venue?

• AOnly police can use force
• BYes, any force is fine
• CYes, if force is reasonable and the person is trespassing or breaching venue rules✓
• DNever, it's always assault

Answer: Door supervisors can use reasonable force to remove trespassers or persons in breach of terms, provided the force is proportionate and no more than necessary. Excessive force remains unlawful.

What is 'self-defence' under UK law?

• AA legal defence that is only available to police officers while they are on duty
• BThere is no right to defend yourself once you are working in a door supervision role
• CA lawful right to use force to protect yourself or others from unlawful attack✓
• DOnly available if attacked first

Answer: Under common law and the Criminal Law Act 1967, you have a right to use reasonable force in self-defence or to protect others from unlawful attack. The force must be proportionate.

What is 'duty of care' in the context of physical intervention?

• AOnly qualified medical staff owe any duty of care to the people at the licensed premises
• BA door supervisor owes no duty of any kind to the people they deal with during a shift
• CYour legal obligation to ensure reasonable safety and not cause unnecessary harm✓
• DThe duty exists only while the premises are actually open to the public for trading

Answer: Duty of care is your legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of those around you and not cause them unnecessary harm. This continues during and after physical intervention.

If a door supervisor uses excessive force during a removal, what could be the consequences?

• AOnly a company warning
• BCriminal charges (assault/GBH) and civil liability✓
• CThey were doing their job, so there are no consequences
• DLicence loss is not possible

Answer: Excessive force beyond what is reasonable can result in criminal assault or GBH charges, civil liability, licence revocation, and dismissal. The force must always be proportionate.

What should be the priority order when managing a violent person?

• ADe-escalation first, then physical intervention only if necessary✓
• BUse physical force immediately, before attempting to speak to the person
• CAlways fight back
• DIgnore them

Answer: De-escalation through calm communication is always the first approach. Physical intervention should only be considered as a last resort when de-escalation fails and there is genuine danger.

What does 'restraint' mean in physical intervention?

• APushing or shoving a person out through the front door of the venue
• BStriking a person hard enough to force them to do as they are told
• CUsing control techniques to prevent someone from causing harm✓
• DAny physical contact whatsoever between a supervisor and a customer

Answer: Restraint refers to using control techniques to safely immobilise or manage a person's movements to prevent harm. This requires proper training and must be proportionate.

What is a potential risk of physical restraint?

• AIt has no risks
• BIt's completely safe
• CRisk of injury, panic, or positional asphyxia if not properly trained✓
• DOnly emotional harm

Answer: Improper restraint can cause serious injury or death, particularly positional asphyxia (restricting breathing). This is why proper training and proportionate use are critical.

When is physical intervention considered lawful?

• AWhenever the door supervisor personally feels that it is called for at the time of the incident
• BUnlawful in all circumstances
• CWhenever a customer is upset
• DOnly when necessary, proportionate, and to prevent harm or protect persons/property✓

Answer: Physical intervention is lawful only when it is necessary to prevent harm, protect persons or property, and the force used is proportionate to the threat. Any other use is assault.

What should a door supervisor do after using physical force against someone?

• ASimply move on without taking any further action
• BDocument the incident, ensure the person's safety, offer assistance, and report to police if needed✓
• CApologise to the person for what happened and then allow them straight back into the venue
• DKeep what happened between the staff who were involved and make no written record of it anywhere

Answer: After physical intervention, ensure the person's wellbeing, document what happened, report to management and police if appropriate, and provide first aid if needed. This protects everyone.

What is 'reasonable' force dependent on?

• AYour physical size
• BThe time of night
• CThe threat level, the person's behaviour, and available alternatives✓
• DYour experience level

Answer: Reasonableness depends on the actual threat (weapons, multiple attackers), the person's behaviour, your ability to de-escalate, and available alternatives. A proportionate response is tailored to the situation.

Can a door supervisor physically remove someone who refuses to leave voluntarily?

• AOnly when a police officer has first given permission for the removal to take place
• BYes, if removal is lawful and force used is reasonable and proportionate✓
• CRemoval by force is unlawful in every case
• DYes, use any force necessary

Answer: If someone is trespassing or in breach and refuses to leave, reasonable physical removal is lawful. The force must be no more than necessary to achieve removal.

What is the relationship between training and using physical intervention?

• ATraining is unnecessary
• BProper training is essential before using any physical techniques✓
• CPhysical intervention training is only needed by serving police officers
• DAnyone working on a door may use physical techniques with no training at all

Answer: Proper training is essential. Using untrained physical techniques can cause serious injury and legal liability. Door supervisors should receive and maintain appropriate physical intervention training.

What should a door supervisor assess before using physical force?

• AOnly the size and physical build of the person they are dealing with at the time
• BJust the age of the person who has become involved in the incident at the door
• CInstinct alone; the supervisor should act straight away without assessing anything
• DThe threat level, available alternatives, risks, and proportionality✓

Answer: Before physical intervention, assess: Is the threat real? Are there alternatives (de-escalation, retreat, backup)? What injuries could result? Is the force proportionate? This assessment protects everyone.

What does 'risk assessment for physical intervention' mean?

• AAssuming that every person being dealt with has some underlying health condition of their own
• BSkipping the assessment altogether
• CAssessing how risky the customer looks
• DEvaluating whether physical intervention is safe given weapons, health issues, or environment✓

Answer: Risk assessment involves considering hidden weapons, medical conditions (pregnancy, heart disease), environmental hazards, and numbers. Some situations make physical intervention too risky.

What precaution should be taken if someone claims to have a weapon?

• ATreat it as a genuine threat, retreat, call police, and inform others✓
• BTry to take it from them
• CCarry on dealing with the situation in exactly the same way as before the claim
• DAssume that the person is bluffing and take no further action of any kind

Answer: Any claim of a weapon should be taken seriously. Retreat to a safe distance, call police immediately, keep others away, and wait for police response. Never attempt disarming.

Can a door supervisor legally prevent someone from leaving the venue against their will?

• AIt depends entirely on how old the person concerned happens to be
• BYes, if the person still owes money for their drinks or their entry
• CNo, unless they are being detained lawfully (e.g., by police)✓
• DYes, a door supervisor may always stop any person from leaving the venue

Answer: Unlawfully detaining someone is false imprisonment, which is a crime. You cannot prevent someone from leaving unless there is lawful authority (police detention).

What is 'post-incident procedure' after physical intervention?

• AA stage that can be skipped entirely once the incident is over
• BIgnore what happened
• CTell friends about it
• DDocumenting, reporting, ensuring safety, and recording details for evidence✓

Answer: Post-incident procedure includes documenting what happened, reporting to management and police, ensuring medical care, recording witness details, and preserving evidence. This protects everyone.

What information should be recorded after using physical force?

• AOnly if someone is injured
• BWhat led to it, who was involved, what happened, injuries, witnesses, police notification✓
• CRecording is required only if the police later ask for a written statement
• DJust your own name and the time at which your shift came to an end that night

Answer: Record: date, time, people involved, who initiated the conflict, sequence of events, what force was used, injuries sustained, witnesses, police involvement, and actions taken.

What is the difference between 'force' and 'assault'?

• ALawful force is different from unlawful assault✓
• BThere is no difference between the two terms in law
• COnly assault is illegal, because force is never unlawful
• DBoth are always illegal on licensed premises in the UK

Answer: Lawful force (reasonable, proportionate, necessary) is different from assault (unlawful force causing harm or threatening it). The same action can be lawful force or unlawful assault depending on circumstances.

What is 'GBH' (Grievous Bodily Harm)?

• AAny minor injury
• BOnly small cuts
• CVerbal harm
• DSerious injury causing long-term harm, such as broken bones or deep lacerations✓

Answer: GBH is serious bodily harm such as broken bones, significant scarring, or permanent injury. It is a serious criminal offence. Door supervisors must avoid causing GBH.

What is 'common assault'?

• AOnly pushing someone
• BReasonable force that is used to prevent a crime from being committed at the venue
• CIntentional application of unlawful force or threat of unlawful force✓
• DLawful use of force

Answer: Common assault is any intentional application of unlawful force or a threat of unlawful force. It can include pushing, hitting, or even threatening to hit someone.

Can a door supervisor use physical force against someone who is not being violent?

• ANever under any circumstances, since any contact with a non-violent person is an assault
• BYes, if the customer is rude or argumentative towards staff, force may be used to move them on
• CYes, at any time, because door supervisors hold the same powers as a constable on licensed premises
• DOnly if necessary to prevent harm or enforce legal removal; force must be proportionate✓

Answer: Physical force can only be used if it is necessary (de-escalation failed), lawful (removing a trespasser), and proportionate (no more force than needed). Rudeness alone does not justify force.

What should a door supervisor do if they feel a situation is becoming too dangerous for physical intervention?

• ACall for backup, retreat to safety, let police handle it✓
• BTry harder
• CLeave without helping
• DContinue anyway

Answer: If a situation is too dangerous (multiple attackers, weapons, medical issues), retreat to a safe distance, call for backup and police, and do not attempt physical intervention.

What is 'positional asphyxia'?

• AA type of breathing exercise
• BDeath or serious injury from restricting someone's breathing during restraint✓
• CA condition that only ever affects athletes during periods of heavy physical exercise
• DA breathing technique

Answer: Positional asphyxia is when someone cannot breathe properly due to their body position during restraint, particularly face-down pressure on the chest. It can be fatal within minutes.

How can positional asphyxia be prevented during physical restraint?

• AApply the restraint more firmly and hold the position for longer until the person stops struggling completely
• BKeep restraint brief, avoid face-down positions, call ambulance if unresponsive, use trained personnel✓
• CPositional asphyxia is impossible to prevent
• DPositional asphyxia only affects people who are already unwell, so no special precautions are needed during a restraint

Answer: Prevention includes keeping restraint brief and only when necessary, avoiding prolonged face-down positions, monitoring breathing, calling emergency services if any distress, and using trained staff only.

What is the 'doctrine of necessity' in relation to using force?

• AOnly doctors use necessity doctrine
• BForce can be used when necessary to prevent imminent harm or crime✓
• CForce is never necessary
• DAny force is necessary

Answer: The doctrine of necessity allows use of force when it is necessary to prevent imminent harm or protect against crime. The force must still be proportionate and reasonable.

What is a 'proportionate response' in physical intervention?

• AAlways use maximum force
• BAvoiding force altogether, whatever the circumstances may be
• CUse only the force necessary to achieve the lawful aim✓
• DForce proportional to your anger

Answer: Proportionality means using only the minimum force necessary to achieve the lawful objective (removal, restraint, self-defence). Excessive force is unlawful even if the aim is lawful.

What should happen if someone is injured during physical intervention by a door supervisor?

• AConceal the injury and make no mention of it in the venue's incident log
• BDeny it happened
• CSend the injured person an invoice for any damage that was caused to the venue
• DProvide first aid, call ambulance if needed, report to police and management✓

Answer: Immediately provide first aid, call emergency services for serious injuries, document the incident, notify police and management, and cooperate with investigations. Never hide or minimise injuries.

Can someone be charged criminally AND face civil liability for the same use of force?

• AOnly civil proceedings can ever follow from the use of force at work
• BYes, criminal and civil actions can be pursued separately✓
• CNo, only one type of legal action can ever be brought against a person
• DOnly criminal charges can ever follow from a use of force at a venue

Answer: A door supervisor can face criminal charges (assault/GBH) and separate civil claims (damages) for the same incident. These are independent legal processes.

What is the Criminal Law Act 1967 Section 3?

• AIt applies to violence only
• BIt allows use of reasonable force to prevent crime or protect persons/property✓
• CIt bans the use of violence of any kind on licensed premises in England and Wales
• DIt only applies to police

Answer: Section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows anyone, including door supervisors, to use reasonable force to prevent crime or protect persons or property. Force must be proportionate.

What is 'duty of care' in first aid after physical intervention?

• AA door supervisor has no duty of care at all once the incident has ended
• BYou must provide reasonable care and call ambulance for serious injuries✓
• CCare is optional
• DOnly trained paramedics have any duty to help a person who has been injured

Answer: After physical intervention, you have a duty of care to ensure an injured person receives help. Failing to do so could constitute a criminal or civil offence.

Should a door supervisor restrain someone who is having a medical episode?

• AYes, hold them down firmly on the floor until they become calm again and stop moving
• BOnly if the person refuses to leave the premises when they are asked to do so
• COnly if the person specifically asks to be held while they are recovering
• DNo, call ambulance and avoid physical contact unless absolutely necessary✓

Answer: Medical episodes require emergency services, not restraint. Restraining someone having a seizure, heart attack, or psychiatric crisis can cause serious harm. Call 999 and monitor breathing.

What is the 'minimum force principle'?

• AForce is never necessary
• BUse only the minimum force necessary to achieve a lawful aim✓
• CEveryone gets the same force
• DUse as much force as possible

Answer: The minimum force principle means using the least amount of force needed. A warning, then refusal of entry, then gentle removal is preferred to aggressive physical intervention.

Can door supervisors refuse to use physical force even if asked to do so by management?

• ANo, a door supervisor must obey every order given by management
• BYes, if force would be unlawful or disproportionate✓
• CAny refusal would itself breach the SIA Code of Conduct
• DOnly if they have already worked more than eight hours that night

Answer: Door supervisors remain personally responsible for their actions. They can and should refuse unlawful instructions, including using excessive force. Lawfulness trumps management orders.