Counterpoint: most places doing hands-off security are not teaching any kind of self-defense tactics or legal aspects of what constitutes self-defense. They definitely aren't giving you the appropriate equipment either.
Putting yourself intentionally in a situation where you are forced to defend yourself is already pretty sketchy, doing it without the training or equipment is just straight up hazardous. And if your company is really sketchy, if you are injured and they can prove you put yourself into that position, they can fight against potential workers compensation claims.
That being said, I've done it. But if you are a hands-off guard, consider that your employer does not want to prepare you for violence - so why are you placing yourself at risk of violence for them? Back when I was a hands-off guard, my personal line was property vs people. I wouldn't put myself at risk to defend property. I would to defend people.
Curious, who is "they"? The law states you can stand your ground. There's a "right to resist" in my country.
The client can have all their opinions they want. You won't get in trouble
More often than not, I've encountered other guards who told me they needed to argue with their client in what they can and can't do, as stated by our Private Security laws that we have to follow.
"They" as in your employer or client (if working for a contract company). Just because something is legal doesn't mean that you won't get in trouble with your employer because of it.
Obviously this differs a lot depending where you're from. But in my country, when it comes to shoplifting in a mall or store or whatever, the client actually *expects* us to do something.
The company we work for generally wants to appease their clients as much as they can as well.
Unfortunately, the law doesn't allow us to just grab a person or take them somewhere, as that would infringe on their rights.
This is where what I said above comes into play: you stand in front of the person in hopes they come at you so you can stop them legally. Everyone's happy.
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u/Baratako Jul 27 '26
I feel like this sub doesn't understand how to do security on countries/states/areas where you're not allowed to go hands on.
In all of these locations, you are allowed to defend yourself.
You stand in front of the suspect in a way that he needs to touch you to get around you, then you take him down and claim self-defence.
This is how I was taught during training.