What is essential for a PSO to consider before detaining a person?

For a Protective Security Officer (PSO), it is crucial to consider the necessary level of force needed before detaining a person. This involves evaluating the situation to ensure that any actions taken are appropriate, proportional, and justified. Understanding the level of force ensures that the PSO acts within legal and professional boundaries, mitigating the risk of unnecessary harm to the individual being detained or to themselves and others surrounding them. This principle is backed by guidelines set forth in training for security scenarios, which emphasize the importance of using the least amount of force necessary to achieve a lawful objective, like making a detention.

In contrast to focusing on personal feelings or the opinions of bystanders, the decision to detain someone should be based on objective assessment and established protocols rather than subjective emotions or external pressures. Evaluating the nature of the crime committed is also critical but it informs the context rather than the immediate actions of detaining someone, which is fundamentally about utilizing appropriate force. Thus, determining the necessary level of force is a foundational aspect of a PSO's responsibilities when considering the detention of an individual.