As a security guard, is it acceptable to leave empty spaces in your duty notebook to add notes later?

Leaving empty spaces in a duty notebook to add notes later is not considered acceptable practice for a security guard. A duty notebook serves as an official record of events, observations, and actions taken during a shift. It is essential for maintaining accurate and comprehensive documentation, which is crucial for accountability and potential legal reasons.

If notes are added at a later time, there is a risk that the information may be misrepresented or forgotten, leading to inaccuracies in reporting. The integrity of the documentation relies on contemporaneous recordings that reflect real-time events and observations. Writing in the notebook at the time of occurrence helps ensure that the details are captured accurately, preserving the reliability of the information for future reference.

The standard practice is to fill out the duty notebook as incidents occur, without leaving blank spaces. This process not only maintains a clear and detailed record but also enhances the professionalism of the security personnel’s duties.