Security templates/Trespass notice

Trespass notice template for security officers

A trespass notice tells a named or described person that permission to enter or stay on a property is withdrawn, on behalf of the owner or occupier. This free template has two parts: the notice handed to the person and a record the security company keeps. What the notice achieves legally differs between US states and the UK.

Free, no sign-up. Every file has the blank form first and a filled-in worked example at the end. Edit the Word file to add your logo, site details and wording.

What the template contains

Part A is the notice itself. It identifies the person, the property and the owner or occupier, states that permission to enter or remain is withdrawn, gives an end date or says it runs until withdrawn in writing, and carries the issuing officer's name, company, licence number and signature. Part B stays with you: why the notice was issued, how it was served, what the person said, whether ID was shown, whether a photo was taken under site policy, and who was informed.

  1. Part A. Notice (hand this part to the person)
  2. Part B. Record (keep this part)

Issue the notice during or after an incident and record it in the incident report. Keep a list of current notices per site so every officer on the post knows who has been excluded.

United States: notice under state criminal trespass law

In US state law, a written trespass warning matters because criminal trespass offences can turn on notice. Texas is a clear example. Under Texas Penal Code section 30.05, a person commits criminal trespass by entering or remaining on another's property without effective consent after having notice that entry was forbidden, or after receiving notice to depart and failing to do so. "Notice" includes "oral or written communication by the owner or someone with apparent authority to act for the owner", as well as fencing, posted signs and purple paint marks of a defined size and spacing.

For a security company this has two consequences. The officer must act with the owner's authority, so your contract or post orders should say that officers may issue trespass notices on the client's behalf. And the written notice is your proof that notice was given, with date and time. Wording, duration and service rules differ between states, so have the client's legal adviser approve the notice before first use.

England and Wales: a civil matter in most cases

In England and Wales, entering land without permission is generally not a crime. The police guidance on trespass on private land says trespass to land "in most instances is a civil matter", that the landowner should first ask the trespasser to leave, and that removing someone by force is risky. The safest route it names is a court order, which can then become a criminal matter if breached. Damage, or threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, may be a criminal offence and should be reported to the police.

A written notice in the UK therefore withdraws the person's permission and documents that they were asked to leave. It does not by itself make a return visit a crime, and the template's wording does not claim that it does. If a person keeps returning, the notice and your incident reports can support the client's application for a court order. Specific criminal offences exist for some situations, such as the police powers in section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994; those are for the police to use, not the security officer. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own law on access and trespass, so this section does not apply there.

Template preview

First page of the free Trespass Notice template
Page 1 of the blank template
Filled-in example of the Trespass Notice template
Worked example with fictional data
US LetterWord (.docx)PDF
A4Word (.docx)PDF

Trespass notices in a guard tour app

A paper notice list in the gatehouse is out of date as soon as another shift issues a notice. With COREDINATE's guard tour system, the officer records the notice as an incident with a photo where site policy allows, and Part B can be set up as a flexible form. The current notice list for a site can be shared through the file manager with only the officers assigned to that client, who can open it in the app.

Frequently asked questions

What is a trespass notice?

A written notice, given on behalf of the owner or occupier, telling a person that they are not permitted to enter or remain on a property. It identifies the person, the property and the issuer, and the security company keeps a record of when and how it was served.

Can a security guard issue a trespass notice?

Yes, if the guard acts with the authority of the owner or occupier. Texas law, for example, accepts oral or written notice from the owner or someone with apparent authority to act for the owner. Put that authority in the contract or post orders.

Is trespass a crime in the UK?

In England and Wales, trespass to land is in most cases a civil matter, according to police guidance. Damage or threatening behaviour can be criminal, and some specific situations are covered by criminal law, but a trespass notice alone does not make re-entry a crime.

How long does a trespass notice last?

That depends on the wording and on local law. The template lets you set an end date or state that the notice runs until withdrawn in writing. Have the client's legal adviser confirm the duration for your state or jurisdiction.

Should the person sign the trespass notice?

Ask them to, but do not insist. Record on Part B whether the notice was handed over, refused or read aloud, and have a witness sign if one is present.

Keep every officer's trespass list current

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