Physical intervention: Application of Physical Intervention Skills in the Private Security Industry (Refresher)

Physical Intervention Refresher Practice Test

Practice for the physical intervention part of the Door Supervisor refresher: the law on force, excessive force, alternatives, risk factors, positional asphyxia, ground restraint, aftercare, teamwork and reporting.

Questions: 30 multiple choice
Time: 45 minutes
Pass mark: 80% (24 of 30)
You can get wrong: 6 questions
Counts towards: Door Supervisor licence renewal

Start the mock test

Choose how to practise

Full mock test30 questions, 45 minutes, pass mark 24. Answers at the end, like the real exam.Quick round10 questions, no timer. Answers at the end.Practice modeSee the right answer and why after each question. No timer.

Each attempt picks a new set of questions from a bank of 38, so you can practise as often as you like.

Sample questions with answers

1. You have restrained a man who attacked a colleague. He has now stopped struggling and the threat has passed. What happens to your legal justification for using force?
- A. It continues until the police arrive and take over
- B. It continues for as long as the venue manager wants
- C. It ends, so any further force would be unlawful (correct answer)
- D. It ends only once the man has left the premises
Force is only lawful while it is necessary. Once the threat has ended, continuing to use force is no longer justified and could be an assault.
2. A Door Supervisor uses force that a court later finds was not reasonable. What could follow?
- A. A verbal warning from the venue and nothing further
- B. Nothing, because an SIA licence protects staff while on duty
- C. Only a small fine from the local council
- D. A criminal charge for assault, a civil claim for damages and action against their licence (correct answer)
Unlawful force can lead to prosecution, a civil claim by the injured person and the SIA revoking or suspending the licence. The licence gives no special protection.
3. In a team restraint, why should one person take the lead and give the instructions?
- A. So that the other team members can stand back and watch
- B. So that only one person carries the blame if something goes wrong
- C. So that the lead can decide alone how much force to use
- D. So the team acts together, avoids confusion and keeps the person safe (correct answer)
Clear leadership means everyone moves at the same time and in the same direction. Mixed instructions lead to confusion, longer restraints and more injuries.
4. Self-defence in law allows a person to use reasonable force to protect which of the following?
- A. Themselves alone and nobody else
- B. Themselves and other members of staff only
- C. Themselves, another person or property (correct answer)
- D. Paying customers and nobody else
Self-defence covers the defence of yourself, the defence of another person and the defence of property. In each case the force must be reasonable.
5. What aftercare should be considered for Door Supervisors who were involved in a serious restraint?
- A. None, because dealing with violence is part of the job
- B. A written warning for having used force
- C. A chance to talk through what happened and support if they are affected by it (correct answer)
- D. An immediate move to a different venue
A violent incident can affect staff as well as customers. A debrief and access to support help people recover and help the team learn from what happened.
6. Which of these factors increases the risk of serious harm during a restraint?
- A. The person has drunk nothing all evening
- B. The restraint takes place in a well lit area
- C. The person is kept sitting upright throughout
- D. The person has taken drugs or a large amount of alcohol (correct answer)
Alcohol and drugs affect breathing, heart rate and the ability to feel distress. A person under their influence is at much higher risk of harm when restrained.

What this mock test covers

The question bank has 38 questions across these topics. Every attempt mixes them at random.

Use of force law (7)
Positional asphyxia (5)
Risk factors (4)
Monitoring and aftercare (4)
Excessive force (3)
Medical emergencies (3)
Professional standards (2)
Alternatives to force (2)
De-escalation (2)
Ground restraint (2)
Teamwork (2)
Reporting and recording (2)

Questions last checked: 20 October 2026. These are practice questions written for London SIA Course, not the official exam papers.

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Start the mock test

Choose how to practise

Each attempt picks a new set of questions from a bank of 38, so you can practise as often as you like.

Sample questions with answers

1. You have restrained a man who attacked a colleague. He has now stopped struggling and the threat has passed. What happens to your legal justification for using force?

A. It continues until the police arrive and take over
B. It continues for as long as the venue manager wants
C. It ends, so any further force would be unlawful (correct answer)
D. It ends only once the man has left the premises

Force is only lawful while it is necessary. Once the threat has ended, continuing to use force is no longer justified and could be an assault.

2. A Door Supervisor uses force that a court later finds was not reasonable. What could follow?

A. A verbal warning from the venue and nothing further
B. Nothing, because an SIA licence protects staff while on duty
C. Only a small fine from the local council
D. A criminal charge for assault, a civil claim for damages and action against their licence (correct answer)

Unlawful force can lead to prosecution, a civil claim by the injured person and the SIA revoking or suspending the licence. The licence gives no special protection.

3. In a team restraint, why should one person take the lead and give the instructions?

A. So that the other team members can stand back and watch
B. So that only one person carries the blame if something goes wrong
C. So that the lead can decide alone how much force to use
D. So the team acts together, avoids confusion and keeps the person safe (correct answer)

Clear leadership means everyone moves at the same time and in the same direction. Mixed instructions lead to confusion, longer restraints and more injuries.

4. Self-defence in law allows a person to use reasonable force to protect which of the following?

A. Themselves alone and nobody else
B. Themselves and other members of staff only
C. Themselves, another person or property (correct answer)
D. Paying customers and nobody else

Self-defence covers the defence of yourself, the defence of another person and the defence of property. In each case the force must be reasonable.

5. What aftercare should be considered for Door Supervisors who were involved in a serious restraint?

A. None, because dealing with violence is part of the job
B. A written warning for having used force
C. A chance to talk through what happened and support if they are affected by it (correct answer)
D. An immediate move to a different venue

A violent incident can affect staff as well as customers. A debrief and access to support help people recover and help the team learn from what happened.

6. Which of these factors increases the risk of serious harm during a restraint?

A. The person has drunk nothing all evening
B. The restraint takes place in a well lit area
C. The person is kept sitting upright throughout
D. The person has taken drugs or a large amount of alcohol (correct answer)

Alcohol and drugs affect breathing, heart rate and the ability to feel distress. A person under their influence is at much higher risk of harm when restrained.

What this mock test covers

The question bank has 38 questions across these topics. Every attempt mixes them at random.

Use of force law (7)

Positional asphyxia (5)

Risk factors (4)

Monitoring and aftercare (4)

Excessive force (3)

Medical emergencies (3)

Professional standards (2)

Alternatives to force (2)

De-escalation (2)

Ground restraint (2)

Teamwork (2)

Reporting and recording (2)