Lesson 2 of 12

Your Legal Authority: The PSISA

The Private Security and Investigative Services Act (PSISA, 2005)

In Ontario, all security guards and Loss Prevention agents must be licensed under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005. This legislation defines who you are as a regulated professional — and critically, what you are not.

You are not a police officer. You do not have police powers. You are a private citizen, licensed to perform specific security functions on behalf of a client.

Professional male security guard in uniform standing confidently inside a modern Ontario retail store, natural lighting, realistic hi-fi photograph, three-quarter shot
Professional male security guard in uniform standing confidently inside a modern Ontario retail store, natural lighting, realistic hi-fi photograph, three-quarter shot
What You CAN Do

As a licensed Ontario security guard or LP agent, you may:

  • Conduct active surveillance of individuals on client property

  • Arrest a person you personally witness committing a criminal offence (Section 494 of the Criminal Code)

  • Remove a person from private property under the Trespass to Property Act

  • Use as much force as is reasonably necessary to effect a lawful arrest

  • Detain a person until police arrive following a lawful arrest

  • Prepare incident reports and preserve evidence

What You CANNOT Do

As a licensed Ontario security guard or LP agent, you may NOT:

  • Arrest someone based on a tip, suspicion, or another person's account — you must personally witness the offence

  • Conduct an invasive search of a person's clothing or body

  • Use force beyond what is reasonably necessary — this constitutes assault

  • Detain someone without lawful grounds — this is false imprisonment

  • Identify yourself as a police officer or imply police authority

  • Arrest someone for an offence committed in the past that you did not personally witness