Legal rights of security guards

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Question

Country: Australia
State: All States/Provinces

I am interested to know the power or legal right of a security guard (complex contractor) to restrain, physically or otherwise, a suspected shop lifter. Also whether the same rights/powers apply to a store security guard (store security) Are either of these people able to forcibly restrain and physically hinder a person or persons from walking back to their vehicle and leaving the area. Are either of them in fact able to do anything physically to stop a person from leaving.

Answer

If they feel with good cause you stole something they can detain you. If you did not take anything however you can sometime sue if excessive force was used.