Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services - Security Guard and Private Investigator Licensing

Security Guard and Private Investigator Licensing

In 2010, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services began to administer tests for new applicants and existing security guard or private investigator cardholders. Prior to 2010, any individual (as long as they were free, or pardoned, of a criminal charge) could obtain one or both licences just by paying 80 dollars for each. The new requirements came after a coroner's inquest into the death of Patrick Shand, who died from asphyxiation while in the custody of an untrained private security guard and staff at a Loblaws store in Scarborough. Despite the store chain's policy of prohibiting use of force against shoplifters, Shand was restrained and handcuffed. Shand remained handcuffed when staff had to perform CPR after the former went into respiratory arrest. The handcuffs were not removed until Shand was placed in an ambulance 18 minutes after the 911 call was made.

In response to the inquest's recommendations, applicants for security guard or private investigator licences must pass a 32-hour training course before writing a test. 62.5% is a passing grade for security guards and 77% for private investigators.