Alberta Basic Security Training (ABST) Practice Exam 2025

Why is it crucial to maintain confidentiality about incidents you witness?

1. To protect the investigation

2. To gossip with friends

3. To share with the media

4. To impress your peers

The correct answer is: To protect the investigation

Maintaining confidentiality about incidents you witness is critical primarily to protect the investigation. When an incident occurs that requires security personnel to intervene, various sensitive information may be involved, such as personal details of individuals, evidence related to the event, and the integrity of potential witness testimonies. By keeping this information confidential, it ensures that the investigation can proceed without outside influence or interference. Confidentiality helps preserve the accuracy of statements and minimizes the risk of leaks that could compromise the entire case. When information is shared with unauthorized individuals, it might lead to rumors, misinformation, or even destruction of evidence. Moreover, protecting the investigation also serves to uphold the rights and privacy of individuals involved, ensuring that legal processes can unfold fairly. In contrast, sharing incident details with friends, the media, or to seek peer approval undermines the professional standards expected of security personnel and can severely damage reputations and legal proceedings. These other options represent behaviors that are not only unprofessional but can hinder the security team’s ability to effectively ensure safety and maintain order.