Security Agents Institute of Western Australia (SAIWA) Practice Test

In Western Australia, a lawful citizen’s arrest lets a private person detain someone who has committed an offence in your presence or whom you reasonably believe has committed it, and you must hand the person over to the police as soon as possible. The key idea is that you act only when you actually witness the offence or have reasonable grounds to believe it has occurred, and you use only the amount of force necessary to restrain them until police arrive. You’re not free to arrest for any reason or without a belief, and you don’t need a warrant—the authority comes from witnessing or reasonable belief, not from a police-issued sanction. While detaining, focus on safety for yourself and others, avoid escalating the situation, contact the police, identify yourself if possible, and ensure you convey the relevant details to them when handing the person over.