Communication & PRQuestion 152 of 200

Local news reporters arrive after an incident and ask the security officer for details. The correct response is generally to:

a.Decline to comment on details, refer the reporter to the contracting client or designated employer spokesperson, and notify a supervisor
b.Provide a full account of the incident on the spot, so that the version that reaches the public is accurate and first-hand rather than pieced together from rumour
c.Speculate about what might have happened in order to fill the gaps in the information, since a partial account with obvious holes in it does more damage to the client than a complete one
d.Demand to see the reporter's press credentials and order them off the property at once

Explanation

Standard BSIS guidance is that security officers do not speak for the client or the security company. Reporters should be politely referred to the client's designated spokesperson (often public relations or risk management) and the security officer must notify their supervisor immediately. Unauthorized statements (b, c) risk defaming parties, prejudicing investigations, and violating contracts. Demanding credentials and ordering reporters off public-accessible space (d) can create First Amendment and trespass disputes; the officer enforces the client's lawful access rules without unnecessary confrontation.

Law Reference: BSIS press/media protocol; client/employer chain of command

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