Private Security Industry Act 2007 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 1 · Preliminary
2. General interpretation
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2014.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —“approved” means approved by the licensing officer;“authorised point of departure” and “authorised point of entry” have the meanings given by section 2 of the Immigration Act 1959;“bouncer” means a person who, in respect of any place of entertainment or other similar premises, and as part of his or her regular duties, performs for reward any function of —
screening individuals seeking entry;
controlling or monitoring the behaviour of individuals; or
removing individuals for behavioural reasons;“business entity” includes —
a sole proprietorship or firm registered under the Business Names Registration Act 2014;
a body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act 1967; and
a limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005;“employ” does not include subcontract or arrange by contract, franchise or otherwise with another person for the purpose of that other person employing or providing persons;“licence” means any of the following licences granted under this Act:
a private investigator’s licence;
private investigator
“private investigator” means any individual who, for reward, carries out any of the following functions:(a)obtaining and giving information about any person;(b)searching for missing persons;(c)obtaining and giving information as to the cause and origin of or responsibility for any fire, libel, loss or accident or any damage to real or personal property;(d)obtaining and giving information as to the location or recovery of lost or stolen property; or(e)obtaining evidence to be used in any civil or criminal proceedings.(2) For the purposes of this Act, a private investigator does not include —(a)a person employed by an employer to obtain and give information about another person who is employed by the employer, or whom the employer intends to employ;(b)a person employed by a business entity to obtain and give information about the character or nature of business of another business entity for the purpose of any business venture undertaken or to be undertaken by the employer or exclusively for the purposes of market research; and(c)a person who carries out any function mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1) —(i)as part of the person’s profession or business as an advocate and solicitor or as part of the person’s occupation as an employee of an advocate and solicitor;(ii)as part of the person’s profession or business as a public accountant or as part of the person’s occupation as an employee of a public accountant;(iii)as part of the person’s business of obtaining or giving information as to the financial rating or standing of another person; or(iv)as part of the person’s business of insurance or as an insurance adjustment agency, or as part of the person’s occupation as an employee of the person carrying on the business of insurance or the insurance adjustment agency.(3) In this section,
a private investigation agency’s licence;
a security officer’s licence;
security officer
“security officer” means any individual who, for reward, carries out any of the following functions:(a)patrolling or guarding another person’s property (including cash in transit) by physical means (which may involve the use of patrol dogs) or by electronic means;(b)keeping the property (including cash in transit) of another person under surveillance, including for the purpose of preventing theft thereof;(c)acting as a bodyguard or bouncer;(d)in respect of any public place or other premises and as part of his or her regular duties, performing any function of screening individuals seeking entry thereto;(e)regulating traffic under the Road Traffic Act 1961.
a security agency’s licence; or
a security service provider’s licence;“licensed” means licensed as a private investigator, private investigation agency, security officer, security agency or security service provider under this Act;“licensee” means the holder of a licence;“licensing officer”, in relation to any provision in this Act, means any licensing officer appointed under section 4(1) for the purposes of that provision, and includes any assistant licensing officer appointed by such a licensing officer under section 4(2) and subject to the licensing officer’s direction and control;“officer”, in relation to a business entity, means —
a director, partner, member of the board of management, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of a business entity that is a body corporate;
a partner of a business entity that is a partnership; or
a president, secretary, or any member of the committee of management of a business entity that is an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), or any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee,and includes a person who can control or substantially influence the conduct of the affairs of the business entity;“political figure” means the President, the Prime Minister, a Minister or a Minister of State;“reward” means reward under any scheme, agreement, understanding, promise, undertaking (whether express or implied) or other arrangement;“screening” means —
a search of an individual, or of any property in the individual’s possession, by means of an equipment that is designed to carry out the search without touching the individual or the individual’s property, as the case may be;
a frisk search of an individual conducted by quickly running the hands over the individual’s outer clothing, and an examination of anything worn or carried by the individual that is conveniently and voluntarily removed by the individual; or
a physical search of any personal property in the individual’s possession, not being clothing worn by the individual;“security equipment” means any equipment specified in the Schedule.
“approved” means approved by the licensing officer;
“authorised point of departure” and “authorised point of entry” have the meanings given by section 2 of the Immigration Act 1959;
“bouncer” means a person who, in respect of any place of entertainment or other similar premises, and as part of his or her regular duties, performs for reward any function of —
screening individuals seeking entry;
controlling or monitoring the behaviour of individuals; or
removing individuals for behavioural reasons;
“business entity” includes —
a sole proprietorship or firm registered under the Business Names Registration Act 2014;
a body corporate incorporated under the Companies Act 1967; and
a limited liability partnership registered under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2005;
“employ” does not include subcontract or arrange by contract, franchise or otherwise with another person for the purpose of that other person employing or providing persons;
“licence” means any of the following licences granted under this Act:
a private investigator’s licence;
a private investigation agency’s licence;
a security officer’s licence;
a security agency’s licence; or
a security service provider’s licence;
“licensed” means licensed as a private investigator, private investigation agency, security officer, security agency or security service provider under this Act;
“licensee” means the holder of a licence;
“licensing officer”, in relation to any provision in this Act, means any licensing officer appointed under section 4(1) for the purposes of that provision, and includes any assistant licensing officer appointed by such a licensing officer under section 4(2) and subject to the licensing officer’s direction and control;
“officer”, in relation to a business entity, means —
a director, partner, member of the board of management, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of a business entity that is a body corporate;
a partner of a business entity that is a partnership; or
a president, secretary, or any member of the committee of management of a business entity that is an unincorporated association (other than a partnership), or any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee,and includes a person who can control or substantially influence the conduct of the affairs of the business entity;
“political figure” means the President, the Prime Minister, a Minister or a Minister of State;
“reward” means reward under any scheme, agreement, understanding, promise, undertaking (whether express or implied) or other arrangement;
“screening” means —
a search of an individual, or of any property in the individual’s possession, by means of an equipment that is designed to carry out the search without touching the individual or the individual’s property, as the case may be;
a frisk search of an individual conducted by quickly running the hands over the individual’s outer clothing, and an examination of anything worn or carried by the individual that is conveniently and voluntarily removed by the individual; or
a physical search of any personal property in the individual’s possession, not being clothing worn by the individual;
“security equipment” means any equipment specified in the Schedule.