There are many misconceptions and myths surrounding the rules about what security guards can and cannot do. One of the most common questions is whether they have the legal right to confiscate or handle your belongings.

For example, can a security guard legally take something that belongs to you? Are they allowed to photograph you? Can they take your driver’s licence or handle your passport and any other personal property? In this article, we’ll explore these questions and clarify what security guards are allowed to do under the law.

What Can Security Guards Take From You?

Many people wonder what security guards are legally allowed to confiscate. In general, security guards cannot take away your personal belongings, such as your drivers licence, without your consent. However, if the item in question is a fake ID, security guards are typically permitted to confiscate it.

Can Security Guards Confiscate Items?

As mentioned earlier, security guards generally cannot confiscate your personal property or belongings. However, there are certain exceptions where they are permitted to do so. For instance, if you attempt to use a fake ID to gain access to a licenced venue, such as a bar, security guards are legally allowed to confiscate the fake ID.

Can Security Guards Take My Passport?

No, a security guard cannot confiscate your passport. They may request your permission to view it to verify your age if necessary, but they are not legally allowed to take it away from you.

The only exception is if someone is using a fake passport or ID to gain access to an age-restricted venue, such as a bar or club. In the UK, using a fake ID to enter licenced venues is a criminal offence, and in such cases, security guards are permitted to confiscate the fraudulent document.

Can Security Guards Take My Driver’s Licence?

A common question is whether security guards can confiscate your driver’s licence. The answer is no – security guards cannot take your valid driver’s licence. However, if you’re using a fake driver’s licence, they are permitted to confiscate it. Security guards may also request to see your driver’s licence to verify your age when entering age-restricted events or licenced venues, such as pubs or clubs.

Can Security Guards Take My Camera?

Many people believe security guards have the authority to confiscate cameras, but this is not true. Security guards cannot take your camera, delete images, or prevent individuals from taking photographs. UK law on photography is relatively liberal, allowing people to take photos in public space. The only exception is when photographs are deemed indecent, which constitutes a criminal offence.

Public spaces are areas where the public has unrestricted access, meaning it is perfectly legal to photograph people, objects, and buildings within them. However, if you are taking photographs of private property, property owners have the right to enforce privacy. They may prohibit photography on their premises and ask individuals to stop.

Can Security Guards Take Your Photo?

A common question is whether a security guard can take your picture. The answer is yes – security guards are allowed to photograph you, as it is legal to take photographs of people in public spaces. In the UK, individuals generally do not have the right to:

• Ask a photographer to stop taking photos
• Demand a copy of the photos, or
• Force a photographer to delete photographs.

This means security guards are within their rights to take photos as part of their job. For example, a retail security guard might photograph someone caught shoplifting to assist with identification or as evidence for a report. Photographs are often used by security personnel to help identify potential suspects or document incidents.

Can Security Guards Take My Property?

No, security guards are not allowed to confiscate your property or conduct a search of your belongings without your explicit consent. Wallets, bags, or purses cannot be searched by a security guard unless they have asked for your permission, and you have agreed.

However, security guards are permitted to search unattended property if it is deemed suspicious. They are also allowed to search an unconscious individual to locate identification, as this can help identify the person and ensure their welfare is prioritised.

Can A Security Guard Take Your Phone?

Security guards do not have the authority to confiscate your belongings, which means they cannot take your phone. Similarly, they are not permitted to conduct a forced search of anyone, so they cannot access or look through your phone without your explicit consent.

Can A Security Guard Take Your ID?

Security guards working at licenced premises, such as bars or events serving alcohol, often need to check IDs to verify age. While security guards generally cannot confiscate your belongings, there is an exception when it comes to IDs.

If you present a legitimate form of identification, such a driver’s licence or passport, security guards cannot take it from you. However, if you are using a fake ID, they are legally allowed to confiscate it. In such cases, the security guard is required to hand over the fake ID to the police as soon as possible.

Can Security Guards Touch Your Belongings?

We’ve discussed what security guards are allowed to confiscate, but what about whether they can touch your belongings? In most cases, security guards are not permitted to search or handle your belongings, without your explicit consent.

However, there are a few exceptions where a guard may be allowed to touch your belongings. For example, if someone is unconscious, security officers may need to go through their belongings to locate identification. This helps them identify the persona and ensure their safety and well-being.

So, What Can Security Guards Take From You?

Security guards are not permitted to confiscate or take any of your belongings, including your passport, driver’s licence, camera, or other personal property. The only exception is if you are using a fake ID to gain access to licenced premises.

Even in such cases, the fake ID must be handed over to the police as soon as possible and cannot be retained by the staff or the premises. When it comes to photographs, security guards may take your photo only as part of their duties. For example, a guard might photograph you if they believe you are a suspect or to help identify potential threats.

If you’d like to learn more about what security guards are allowed to do, check out our blog for articles on topics such as can security guards detain or touch you? and what guards are allowed to carry.